BY  WILLIAM  TYLER  OLCOTT 


A  FIELD  BOOK  OF  THE  STARS 

IN  STARLAND  WITH  A  THREE-INCH  TELESCOPE 


A    FIELD     BOOK 

OF 

THE  STARS 


BY 
WILLIAM  TYLER  OLGOTT 


WITH  FIFTY  DIAGRAMS 


OF  TH€ 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS 
NEW  YORK  AND  LONDON 

Gbe  Iknicfcerbocfcer  press 


COPYRIGHT,  1907 

BY 

WILLIAM  TYLER  OLCOTT 

Published,  July,  1907 

Reprinted,  February,  1908  ;  December,  1909 
October,  1910 


Ube  Tftnfcfterbocfeer  press,  flew  B?or* 


INTRODUCTION. 

/CONSIDERING  the  ease  with  which  a  knowledge  of 
^  the  constellations  can  be  acquired,  it  seems  a  re- 
markable fact  that  so  few  are  conversant  with  these  time- 
honored  configurations  of  the  heavens.  Aside  from  a 
knowledge  of  "the  Dipper"  and  "the  Pleiades, "  the  con- 
stellations to  the  vast  majority,  are  utterly  unknown. 

To  facilitate  and  popularize  if  possible  this  fascinat- 
ing recreation  of  star-gazing  the  author  has  designed 
this  field-book.  It  is  limited  in  scope  solely  to  that  pur- 
pose, and  all  matter  of  a  technical  or  theoretical  nature 
has  been  omitted. 

The  endeavor  has  been  to  include  in  these  pages  only 
such  matter  as  the  reader  can  observe  with  the  naked 
eye,  or  an  opera-glass.  Simplicity  and  brevity  have 
been  aimed  at,  the  main  idea  being  that  whatever  is 
bulky  or  verbose  is  a  hindrance  rather  than  a  help  when 
actually  engaged  in  the  observation  of  the  heavens. 

The  constellations  embraced  in  this  manual  are  only 
those  visible  from  the  average  latitude  of  the  New 
England  and  Middle  States,  and  owe  their  place  in  the 
particular  season  in  which  they  are  found  to  the  fact 
that  in  that  season  they  are  favorably  situated  for 
observation. 

With  this  brief  explanatory  note  of  the  purpose  and 
design  of  the  book,  the  author  proceeds  to  outline  the 
scheme  of  study. 

iii 


211773 


SCHEME  OF  STUDY. 

'"pHE  table  .of  contents  shows  the  scheme  of  study 
•*•  to  be  pursued,  and  to  facilitate  the  work  it  is 
desirable  that  the  student  follow  the  therein  circum- 
scribed order. 

A  knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  reader  of  Ursa 
Major,  or  "the  Dipper"  as  it  is  commonly  called,  and 
"the  Pleiades,"  the  well-known  group  in  Taurus,  is 
presupposed  by  the  author. 

With  this  knowledge  as  a  basis,  the  student  is  en- 
abled in  any  season  to  take  up  the  study  of  the  con- 
stellations. By  following  out  the  order  dictated,  he 
will  in  a  few  nights  of  observation  be  enabled  to  identify 
the  various  configurations  making  up  the  several  con- 
stellations that  are  set  apart  for  study  in  that  particular 
season. 

A  large  plate,  showing  the  appearance  of  the  heavens 
at  a  designated  time  on  the  first  night  of  the  quarter, 
is  inserted  before  each  season's  work.  This  should  be 
consulted  by  the  student  before  he  makes  an  observa- 
tion, in  order  that  he  may  obtain  a  comprehensive  idea 
of  the  relative  position  of  the  constellations,  and  also 
know  in  what  part  of  the  heavens  to  locate  the  con- 
stellation which  he  wishes  to  identify. 

X  knowledge  of  one  constellation  enables  the  student 


to  determine  the  position  of  the  next  in  order.  In  this 
work,  the  identification  of  each  constellation  depends 
on  a  knowledge  of  what  precedes,  always  bearing  in 
mind  the  fact  that  each  season  starts  as  a  new  and 
distinct  part  to  be  taken  by  itself,  and  has  no  bearing 
on  that  which  comes  before. 


- 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


CONTENTS 

PAGI5 

INTRODUCTION       .         . "       .         .         .         .  iii 

SCHEME  OF  STUDY          ......         v 

The  Constellations  of  Spring. 

MAP  OF  THE  HEAVENS  9  P.M.,  APRIL  FIRST      .          .         3 

1.  URSA  MAJOR      ......         4 

2.  URSA  MINOR      ......         6 

Located  by  the  pointer  stars  in  Ursa  Major. 

3.  GEMINI      .          .          .          .          .          .          .8 

Located  by  a  line  drawn  through  designated  stars 
in  Ursa  Major. 

4.  AURIGA     .......       10 

Located  in  the  same  manner  as  Gemini. 

5.  CANCER     .          .          .          .          .          .          .12 

Located  by  a  line  drawn  from  Auriga  to  Gemini 
and  prolonged. 

6.  HYDRA       .......        14 

The  head  of  Hydra  is  to  be  seen  just  below  Cancer. 

7.  LEO.        .  ......        16 

Located  by  a  line  drawn  from  Gemini  to  Cancer 
and  prolonged. 

vii 


Contents 

PAGE 

8.  COMA  BERENICES        .....        18 

Position    indicated   by    drawing    a    line    through 
designated  stars  in  Leo. 

9.  CANIS  MINOR      ......        20 

Located  by  a  line  drawn  from  Auriga  to   Gemini 
and  prolonged. 

10.  CORVUS       .......          22 

Located  by  a  line  drawn  from  Ursa  Minor  through 
Ursa  Major  and  prolonged. 

11.  CRATER     .          .          .          .          .          .          .24 

Located  south  of  Leo  and  just  west  of  Corvus. 

METEORIC  SHOWERS,  APRIL  TO  JULY    ...        26 
The  Constellations  of  Summer. 


MAP  OF  THE  HEAVENS  9  P.M.,  JULY  FIRST     .          .       31 

12.     DRACO       .......       32 

Lies  between  Ursa  Major  and  Ursa  Minor,   coiling 
about  the  latter. 

13-     LYRA 34 

Vega,  its  brightest  star,  is  12°  S.W.  of  the  Dragon's 
head. 

14.  CYGNUS     .......       36 

Deneb,  its  brightest  star,  is  about  20°  east  of  Vega. 

15.  AQUILA      .......        38 

Located  by  a  line  drawn  from  the  Dragon's  head 
through  Vega  and  prolonged. 

16.  DELPHINUS         ......       40 

Located  about  10°  northeast  of  Altair  in  Aquila. 


Contents 


17.  SAGITTARIUS      ......       42 

Located  by  a  line  drawn  from  Cygnus  to  Aquila 
and  prolonged. 

18.  OPHIUCHUS  AND  SERPENS    .          .          .    -      .       44 

Located  by  a  line  drawn  from  Delphinus  to  Aquila 
and  prolonged. 

19.  SCORPIO    .......       46 

Located  just  under  Ophiuchus,  and  west  of  Sagit- 
tarius. 

20.  LIBRA        .......       48 

Located  about  15°  west  of  the   head   of   Scorpio. 

21.  CORONA  BOREALIS      .....       50 

Located  just  above  the  head  of  Serpens. 

22.  HERCULES          ......        52 

Located  by  lines  drawn  from  either  Vega  or  Altair 
to  Corona. 

23.  BOOTES     .......        54 

Located  just  west  of  the  Crown.  Arcturus,  its 
brightest  star,  is  about  30°  southeast  of  (rj) 
Ursae  Majoris. 

24.  VIRGO        .......       56 

Spica,  its  brightest  star,  is  located  by  a  line 
drawn  from  Antares  in  Scorpio  through  (a) 
in  Libra  and  prolonged  about  20°. 

25.  CANES  VENATICI          .....       58 

Cor  Caroli,  its  brightest  star,  is  about  17°  south 
of  Alioth  in  Ursa  Major. 

METEORIC  SHOWERS,  JULY  TO  OCTOBER         .         .       60 

ix 


Contents 

The  Constellations  of  Autumn. 

PAGE 

MAP  OF  THE  HEAVENS  9  P.M.,  OCTOBER  FIRST        .       65 

26.  CASSIOPEIA         ......       66 

Located  by  a  line  drawn  from  Ursa  Major  through 
the  Pole  star,  the  position  of  which  is  indi- 
cated by  the  pointer  stars  (a)  and  (^)Ursae 
Majoris. 

27.  CEPHEUS  .......       68 

Located  by  pointer  stars  in  Cassiopeia. 

28.  PEGASUS   .......        70 

The  great  square  of  Pegasus  is  located  by  a  line 
drawn  from  Polaris  to  Cassiopeia  and  prolonged. 

29.  ANDROMEDA       .          .          .          .          .          .72 

The  star  Alpheratz  in  Andromeda  is  at  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  great  square  of  Pegasus. 

30.  PERSEUS    .......        74 

Lies  9°  east  of  (x)  Andromedae. 

31.  PlSCES        .......         76 

The  Circlet  in  Pisces  is  to  be  seen  just  below 
Pegasus. 

32.  TRIANGULA         ......        78 

A  line  drawn  from  Pegasus  to  Perseus  passes 
through  (ytf)  in  Triangula. 

33.  AQUARIUS  ......       80 

The  position  of  the  water  jar  of  Aquarius  is 
determined  by  pointer  stars  in  Pegasus. 

34.  CAPRICORNUS     ......       82 

The  head  of  the  Sea  Goat  is  located  by  a  line 
drawn  from  (<r)  Pegasi  through  (£)  and  (6) 
Pegasi  and  prolonged  about  25°. 


Contents 

PAGE 

35.     ARIES        .......       84 

Lies  just  south  of  Triangula.  A  line  drawn 
from  (x)  Andromedae  through  Qg)  Triangulae 
points  out  (a)  Arietis. 

35,     CETUS 86 

The  head  of  Cetus  lies  about  20°  southeast  of 
Aries. 

37.  MUSCA 88 

Located  between  Triangula  and  Aries. 
METEORIC  SHOWERS,  OCTOBER  TO  JANUARY  .       90 

The  Constellations  of  Winter. 

MAP  OF  THE  HEAVENS  9  P.M.,  JANUARY  FIRST   .   95 

38.  TAURUS     .......       96 

Contains  the  celebrated  and  unmistakable  group, 
The  Pleiades,  to  be  seen  almost  overhead  in 
the  early  evening  during  the  Winter  months. 

39.  ORION       .......       98 

The  tips  of  the  horns  of  the  Bull  are  pointer  stars 
to  Betelgeuze,  in  Orion. 

40.  LEPUS         .  .  .  .  .  .  .       100 

Located  just  below  Orion. 

41.  COLUMBA   .......        102 

Located  south  of  Lepus,  close  to  the  horizon. 

42.  CANIS  MAJOR     ......     104 

Located  by  a  line  drawn  from  the  stars  forming 
Orion's  girdle. 

43.  ARGO  NAVIS       ......     106 

Located  by  a  line  drawn  from  Orion  to  Canis 
Major  and  prolonged  18°. 


Contents 

1-AuJi 

44.  MONOCEROS           ....  .        108 

Located  just  east  of  Orion. 

45.  ERIDANUS           ....  .      no 

Located  just  west  of  Rigel,  in  Orion. 

METEORIC  SHOWERS,  JANUARY  TO  APRIL       .  .112 

THE  PLANETS    ....  .      115 

THE  MILKY  WAY        ...  .124 

THE  MOTIONS  OP  THE  STARS        .          .          .  .126 

METEORS,  OR  SHOOTING  STARS     .  .      130 

NAMES  OF  THE  STARS  AND  THEIR  MEANINGS  .      133 
INDEX       .                    ....••      159 


THE  DIAGRAMS. 

THE  diagrams,  it  will  be  observed,  are  grouped  under 
the  seasons,  and  they  indicate  the  positions  of 
the  constellations  as  they  appear  at  9  o'clock  P.M.  in 
mid- season. 

To  facilitate  finding  and  observing  the  constellations, 
the  student  should  face  in  the  direction  indicated  in 
the  text.  This  applies  to  all  constellations  excepting 
those  near  the  zenith. 

The  four  large  plates  are  so  arranged  that  the  obser- 
ver is  supposed  to  be  looking  at  the  southern  skies. 
By  turning  the  plate  about  from  left  to  right,  the  eastern, 
northern,  and  western  skies  are  shown  successively. 


xiii 


THE  CONSTELLATIONS    OF   SPRING. 


O    Stars  of  the  first  magnitude. 
A    Variable  stars. , 
.:>.  Nebula. 


Map  showing  the  principal  stars  visible  from  Lat.  40°  N.  at  9  o'clock  April  ist. 

3 


URSA  MAJOR  (er'sa  ma'-jor)— THE  GREAT  BEAR.     (Face 

North.) 

LOCATION. — Ursa  Major  is  probably  the  best  known  of  the 
constellations,  and  in  this  work  I  presuppose  that  the  reader 
is  familiar  with  its  position  in  the  heavens.  It  is  one  of  the 
most  noted  and  conspicuous  constellations  in  the  northern  hemi- 
sphere, and  is  readily  and  unmistakably  distinguished  from 
all  others  by  means  of  a  remarkable  cluster  of  seven  bright 
stars  in  the  northern  heavens,  forming  what  is  familiarly  termed 
"the  Dipper." 

The  stars  (a)  and  (fl)  are  called  the  pointers,  because  they 
always  point  toward  Polaris,  the  Pole  Star,  a8f  degrees  distant 
from  (a). 

Alioth  is  very  nearly  opposite  Shedir  in  Cassiopeia,  and  at 
an  equal  distance  from  the  Pole.  The  same  can  be  said  of 
Megres,  in  Ursa  Major,  and  Caph,  in  Cassiopeia. 

The  star  (o)  is  at  the  tip  of  the  Bear's  nose.  A  clearly  denned 
semicircle  begins  at  (o)  and  ends  in  the  pair  (?)  and  («)  at  the 
extremity  of  the  Bear's  right  fore  paw.  This  group  of  stars 
resembles  a  sickle.  Note  little  Alcor  close  to  Mizar.  This 
star  was  used  by  the  Arabs  as  a  test  of  good  eyesight. 

Mizar  and  Alcor  are  known  as  the  horse  and  his  rider. 

Note  also  a  faint  star  near  (a)  in  direction  of  (£).  This  plate 
shows  the  Bear  lying  on  his  back,  his  feet  projected  up  the  sky; 
three  conspicuous  pairs  of  stars  represent  three  of  his  four  feet. 


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URSA  MINOR  (er'-sa  mi'-nor)— THE  LITTLE  BEAR.     (Face 

North.) 

LOCATION. — The  two  pointer  stars  in  Ursa  Major  indicate 
the  position  of  Polaris,  the  North  Star,  which  represents  the 
tip  of  the  tail  of  the  Little  Bear,  and  the  end  of  the  handle  of 
the  "Little  Dipper."  In  all  ages  of  the  world,  Ursa  Minor  has 
been  more  universally  observed  and  more  carefully  noticed 
than  any  other  constellation,  on  account  of  the  importance  of 
the  North  Star. 

Polaris  is  a  little  more  than  one  and  one  half  degrees  from 
the  true  pole.  Its  light  takes  fifty  years  to  reach  us 

A  line  joining  (/£)  Cassiopeiae,  and  Megres,  in  Ursa  Major, 
will  pass  through  Polaris. 

Kochab,  one  of  the  guardian  stars,  is  about  25  degrees  dis- 
tant from  Benetnasch  in  Ursa  Major,  and  about  24  degrees 
from  Dubhe,  in  Ursa  Major. 

Note  a  pair  of  faint  stars  nearly  north  of  Kochab. 


Ursa     Major 


^Thuban. 

_Once  the  Pole  Star 
-O-- 


1° 

«3 
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Draco 


The  Guardians 

of  the  Pole 
•  3Kochab  3 


Polaris  2 
The  Pole  Star  a 


GEMINI  (jemM-ni)— THE  TWINS.     (Face  West.) 

LOCATION. — A  line  drawn  from  (/3)  to  («)  Ursae  Majoris  and 
prolonged  an  equal  distance  ends  near  Castor,  in  Gemini. 
Gemini  is  characterized  by  two  nearly  parallel  rows  of  stars. 
The  northern  row  if  extended  would  reach  Taurus,  the  southern 
one  Orion.  Note  the  fine  cluster  35.  M.  Herschel  discovered 
Uranus  in  1781  a  short  distance  southwest  of  it.  Two  wonder- 
ful streams  of  little  stars  run  parallel  northwest  on  each  side 
of  the  cluster.  The  cross  indicates  the  spot  where  the  sun 
appears  to  be  when  it  is  farthest  north  of  the  equator,  June  2ist. 
Castor  is  a  fine  double  for  a  telescope,  and  Pollux  has  three 
little  attendant  stars.  An  isosceles  triangle  is  formed  by  Castor. 
Aldebaran  in  Taurus,  and  Capella  in  Auriga.  There  is  a  record 
of  an  occultation  in  Gemini  noted  about  the  middle  of  the  fourth 
century  B.C. 


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Betelgeuze  in  Orion 


AURIGA  (a-ri'-ga)— THE  CHARIOTEER.      (Face  Northwest.) 

LOCATION. — A  line  drawn  from  (<5)  to  (a)  Ursse  Majoris,  and 
prolonged  about  45  degrees,  ends  near  the  bright  Capella,  in 
Auriga,  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude,  and  one  of  the  most  brilliant 
in  the  heavens.  It  is  unmistakable,  having  no  rival  in  brightness 
near  it.  Auriga  is  a  beautiful  and  conspicuous  constellation. 
It  is  characterized  by  a  clearly  defined  pentagon.  Note  the 
three  fourth-magnitude  stars  near  Capella  known  as  "The  Kids." 
The  star  (/?)  is  common  to  Auriga  and  Taurus,  being  the  former's 
right  foot  and  the  latter's  northern  horn.  The  field  within  the 
pentagon  is  particularly  rich  in  clusters.  Capella  forms  a  rude 
square  with  Polaris,  («)  Cassiopeiae,  and  (o)  Ursae  Majoris,  and 
forms  an  equilateral  triangle  with  Betelgeuze  in  Orion,  and  the 
Pleiades  in  Taurus. 

A  line  from  (0)  to  (a)  Auriga  prolonged  about  20°  ends  near 
00  Persei. 

The  solstitial  colure  passes  2  degrees  east  of  (ft}. 

Capella  is  visible  at  some  hour  of  every  clear  night  throughout 
the  year. 


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CANCER     (kan'-ser)— THE    CRAB.     (Face     West.) 

LOCATION — Cancer  lies  between  Gemini  and  Leo.  A  line 
drawn  from  Nath  in  Auriga  to  Pollux  in  Gemini,  and  prolonged 
about  15  degrees,  ends  in  Praesepe,  the  Manger,  the  great  star 
cluster  in  Cancer,  which  is  also  called  the  Bee  Hive.  It  contains 
thirty-six  stars.  The  stars  (y}  and  (<5)  are  called  the  Aselli — 
the  ass's  colts  feeding  from  the  silver  manger. 

The  star  (#)  lies  about  10  degrees  northeast  of  Procyon. 
Acubens  (a}  lies  on  the  same  line  the  same  distance  beyond  (/?). 
These  two  stars  form  the  tips  of  the  inverted  "Y"  which  dis- 
tinguishes Cancer. 

An  imaginary  line  from  Capella  through  Pollux  will  point  out 
Acubens.  Close  to  it  are  two  faint  stars.  The  Bee  Hive  lies 
within  an  irregular  square  formed  by  y,  8,  77,  and  0.,  and  looks 
like  a  nebula  to  the  naked  eye.  (5)  is  situated  in  the  line  of 
the  ecliptic. 

Halley's  Comet  first  appeared  here  in  1531. 


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HYDRA  (hi'-dra)— THE  SEA-SERPENT.      (Face  South  and 
Southwest.) 

LOCATION — The  head  of  Hydra,  a  striking  and  beautiful 
arrangement  of  stars,  lies  just  below  the  Bee  Hive  in  Cancer, 
6  degrees  south  of  Acubens  in  that  constellation,  and  forms  a 
rhomboidal  figure  of  five  stars. 

Hydra  is  about  100  degrees  in  length  and  reaches  almost  from 
Canis  Minor  to  Libra.  Its  stars  are  all  faint  except  Alphard, 
or  the  Hydra's  heart,  a  second-magnitude  star  remarkable  for 
its  lonely  situation,  southwest  of  Regulus  in  Leo.  A  line  drawn 
from  (y)  Leonis  through  Regulus  points  it  out.  It  is  of  a  rich 
orange  tint.  Castor  and  Pollux  in  Gemini  point  southeast  to 
it. 

The  constellations  Crater,  the  Cup,  and  Corvus,  the  Crow, 
both  stand  on  the  coils  of  Hydra,  south  of  Denebola,  the  bright 
star  in  the  tail  of  the  Lion. 

Hydra  is  supposed  to  be  the  snake  shown  on  a  uranogfaphic 
stone  from  the  Euphrates,  1200  B.C. 


1 

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The  Heart; 
of  Hydra 


HYDRA 


LEO  (le'o)— THE  LION.     (Face  South.) 

LOCATION — A  line  drawn  from  Pollux,  in  Gemini,  to  (y)  in 
Cancer,  and  prolonged  about  12  degrees,  strikes  Regulus,  the 
brilliant  star  in  the  heart  of  the  Lion.  Regulus  lies  about  9 
degrees  east  of  Acubens  in  Cancer,  and  about  12  degrees  north- 
east of  Alphard,  in  the  heart  of  Hydra. 

Leo  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  constellations  in  the  Zodiac. 
It  lies  south  of  the  Great  Bear,  and  its  principal  stars  are  ar- 
ranged in  the  form  of  a  sickle.  This  group  is  so  striking  as  to  be 
unmistakable.  Regulus  lies  in  the  handle  of  the  sickle.  It  is 
one  of  the  stars  from  which  longitude  is  reckoned,  and  is  almost 
exactly  on  the  ecliptic. 

Denebola,  the  bright  star  in  the  Lion's  tail,  lies  25  degrees 
east  of  Regulus,  and  about  35  degrees  west  of  Arcturus,  in  Bootes. 
It  is  the  same  distance  northwest  of  Spica,  in  Virgo,  and  forms 
with  Spica  and  Arcturus  a  large  equilateral  triangle. 

(y)  is  a  double  for  an  opera-glass. 

( £  )is  double,  and  has  three  minute  companion  stars. 

(0  has  two  minute  seventh-magnitude  companion  stars, 
forming  a  beautiful  little  triangle. 

Regulus  is  white  in  color,   (y)  yellow,  (?r)  red. 

Denebola,  Arcturus,  and  Cor  Caroli  form  a  triangle.  This, 
and  the  triangle  formed  with  Spica,  compose  the  Diamond  of 
Virgo. 


Aldhafera 


Basalas 


THE    SICKLE 


Denebola 


Zosma 


X  e  o 


Virgo 
o 


•  Alterf, 


Regulus 


f  Alphard 
'in  Hydra  o(red) 


COMA  BERENICES  (ko'-ma  ber-e-nl'-sez)— BERENICE'S 

HAIR. 

LOCATION — A  line  drawn  from  Regulus  to  Zosma,  in  Leo, 
and  prolonged  an  equal  distance,  strikes  this  fine  cluster,  which 
is  1 8  degrees  northeast  of  Zosma. 

The  group  lies  well  within  a  triangle  formed  by  Denebola, 
Arcturus  in  BoStes,  and  Cor  Caroli  in  Canes  Venatici,  which 
triangle  is  the  upper  half  of  the  Diamond  of  Virgo. 

Twenty  or  thirty  stars  in  this  group  can  be  counted  with  an 
opera-glass,  and  the  group  can  be  easily  distinguished  with  the 
naked  eye,  when  the  moon  is  not  visible. 


18 


Benetnasch 

in 
Ursa  Majoc 


Cor  Caroll 

in 
Canes  Venatici 


Over 
Head 


COMA     BERENICES 


6 


Arcturus 

in 
Bootes 


Denebola 
in  Leo 


_  Ylndemiatrjtr 
0  in 

Virgo 

19 


CANIS  MINOR  (ka'-nis  mi'-nor)— THE  LESSER  DOG.     (Face 

West.) 

LOCATION — Procyon,  the  little  dog  star,  lies  about  23  degrees 
south  of  Pollux,  in  Gemini.  A  line  drawn  from  Nath,  in  Auriga, 
to  Alhena  in  Gemini,  and  prolonged  about  18  degrees,  reaches 
Procyon. 

Procyon  is  equidistant  from  Betelgeuze  in  Orion,  and  Sirius 
in  Canis  Major,  and  forms  with  them  an  equilateral  triangle.  It 
forms  a  large  right-angled  triangle  with  Pollux  and  Betelgeuze. 

The  light  from  Procyon  is  golden  yellow.  Four  degrees  north- 
west of  it  is  the  third-magnitude  star  Gomeisa.  The  glass 
shows  two  small  stars  forming  a  right-angled  triangle  with  it. 

Procyon  was  distinctly  mentioned  by  Ptolemy. 


20 


»,.. 

°v    The  Head 
\  of  Pollux' 


V 


Procyon 

i  • 

Gomeisa 

CANIS    MINOR 


Monoceros 
o 


Betelgeuze 

in 
Orion 


21 


CORVUS  (k6r'-vus)— THE  CROW.     (Face  South.) 

LOCATION. — A  line  drawn  from  the  Bee  Hive,  in  Cancer, 
through  Regulus  in  Leo,  and  prolonged  about  40  degrees,  ends 
near  the  conspicuous  quadrilateral  which  distinguishes  Corvus. 
The  brightest  star  in  this  region  of  the  sky  is  Spica  in  Virgo. 
It  lies  about  10  degrees  northeast  of  Algorab. 

(C)  is  a  double  star  for  an  opera-glass.     A  faint  pair  of  stars 
lie  close  below  and  to  the  west  of  (/?).     The  Crow  is  represented 
as  standing  on,  and  pecking  at,  the  coils  of  Hydra.     The  star 
Al  Chiba  is  in  the  Crow's  bill. 
Corvus  was  known  as  the  Raven  in  Chaucer's  time. 


22 


Denebola  O — 
in 
Leo 


t  go 


fS  Spica 
V<        in 

Virgo 


3  Algorab 


Gienah 


\ 


Crater 


\ 


Al  Chiba 


CRATER  (kra'-ter)— THE  CUP.     (Face  South.) 

LOCATION — Crater  is  situated  15  degrees  west  of  Corvus,  and 
due  south  of  (6)  Leonis.  It  is  easily  distinguished  by  reason 
of  a  beautiful  and  very  striking  semicircle  of  six  stars  of  the 
fourth  magnitude,  forming  the  bowl  of  the  cup. 

The  constellation  resembles  a  goblet  with  its  base  resting  on 
the  coils  of  Hydra. 

The  star  Alkes  is  common  to  Hydra  and  Crater,  and  may 
be  seen  24  degrees  southeast  of  Alphard  in  the  heart  of  Hydra. 
It  is  distinguished  by  its  forming  an  equilateral  triangle  with 
(«)  and  GK),  stars  of  the  same  magnitude  6  degrees  south  and 
east  of  it. 

.  Corvus  and  Crater  are  to  be  seen  half  way  up  the  southern 
sky  during  the  early  evenings  in  spring. 

(<5)  is  now  the  lucida. 


24 


-'Spiea  

in 
Virgo 


-xx8 


Denebola  O 
in  Leo 


Leo 


__Hy_d_ria 


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THE  CONSTELLATIONS  OF  SUMMER, 


N. 


snasuad 


*>«/nv> 


O  Stars  of  the  first  magnitude. 
A  Variable  stars, 
'ii  Nebula. 

Map  showing  the  principal  stars  visible  from  Lat.  40°  N.  at  9  o'clock,  July  first. 

31 


DRACO  (dra'-ko)— THE  DRAGON.     (Face  North.) 

LOCATION. — About  10  degrees  from  (a)  Ursae  Maj oris — from 
(<x)  to  (<5)  is  10  degrees — slightly  south  of,  that  is  above,  the  line 
from  (a)  to  Polaris,  is  Giansar,  (A)  in  the  tip  of  the  Dragon's 
tail.  Above  (A),  and  almost  inline  with  it,  are  two  more  stars 
in  Draco,  which  form  with  two  stars  in  Ursa  Major  a  quadri- 
lateral. (See  diagram.)  Draco  now  curves  sharply  eastward, 
coiling  about  the  Little  Bear  as  shown,  then  turns  abruptly 
southerly,  ending  in  a  characteristic  and  clearly  defined  group 
of  four  stars,  forming  an  irregular  square,  representing  the 
Dragon's  head.  This  group  is  almost  overhead  in  the  early 
evening  in  summer.  The  star  in  the  heel  of  Hercules  lies  just 
south  of  the  Dragon's  head.  The  brilliant  Vega  will  be  seen 
about  overhead,  12  degrees  southwest  of  the  Dragon'r 
head.  Eltanin,  one  of  the  Dragon's  eyes,  is  noted  for  its  'con- 
nection with  the  discovery  of  the  law  of  aberration  of  light 
It  is  of  an  orange  hue,  while  the  star  (/?),  near  it,  is  white 
Note  Thuban,  once  the  Pole  Star,  at  one  corner  of  a  quadri 
lateral  that  Draco  forms  with  Ursa  Major. 

Thuban  could  be  seen  by  day  or  night  from  the  bottom  oi 
the  central  passage  of  several  of  the  Pyramids  in  Egypt. 

The  rising  of  Eltanin  was  visible  about  thirty-five  hundred 
years  B.C.  through  the  central  passages  of  the  temples  of  Hawthor 
at  Denderah. 


The  heel  of 
Hercules 
o 

y 


Rastaban  3        3 

4        _•£ AEltanln 

AlRakis*       pT fy 
u  *  ' 


The  Pointers 


Polaris 
The  Pole  Star 


6vr 


33 


LYRA  (li'-ra)— THE  LYRE. 

LOCATION. — Lyra  may  be  easily  distinguished  because  of  the 
brilliant  Vega,  its  brightest  star,  which  is  situated  about  12 
degrees  southwest  of  the  Dragon's  head.  It  is  unmistakable, 
as  it  is  the  brightest  star  in  this  region  of  the  heavens,  and  one 
of  the  most  brilliant  stars  in  the  northern  hemisphere.  In 
July  and  August  Vega  is  close  to  the  zenith. 

The  six  bright  stars  in  Lyra  form  an  equilateral  triangle  on 
one  corner  of  a  rhomboid.  A  very  characteristic  figure. 

(e)  is  a  pretty  double  for  an  opera-glass,  and  a  double 
double  for  a  powerful  telescope. 

(C)  is  a  double  for  a  good  glass. 

(/?)  is  a  variable,  changing  from  third  to  nearly  fifth  magnitude 
in  a  week's  time. 

The  noted  ring  nebula  lies  between  (/?)  and  (y}.  A  powerful 
telescope  alone  renders  it  visible. 

If  the  distance  from  the  earth  to  the  sun  equalled  one  inch, 
the  distance  from  the  earth  to  Vega  would  be  one  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  miles. 

Vega  was  the  first  star  to  be  photographed,  in  1850.  It  is 
visible  at  some  hour  every  clear  night,  and  has  been  called  the 
arc-light  of  the  sky. 


34 


Draco 


Deneb 


\ 


\ 


V'     s 

\    s 

\  <? 


V 


\ 


Sulafat 


Albireo 


Aladfar 


Over 

Head 


Sheliak,  a  variable 


35 


CYGNUS  (sig'-nus)— THE  SWAN,  OR  THE  NORTHERN 

CROSS. 

LOCATION. — The  star  (<:r)  or  Deneb,  the  brightest  star  in 
Cygnus,  is  at  the  top  of  the  cross,  and  a  little  over  20  degrees 
east  of  Vega.  It  forms  a  triangle  with  Vega  and  Altair  in 
Aquila — Altair  being  at  thd  apex,  about  35  degrees  from  Deneb 
and  Vega. 

The  star  (/?)  or  Albireo  is  at  the  base  of  the  cross,  and  a  line 
drawn  from  Vega  to  Altair  nearly  touches  it. 

(/?)  is  a  beautiful  colored  double  for  a  small  telescope. 

Note  "6 1, "the  second  nearest  star  to  us.  It  was  the  first 
star  whose  distance  was  measured.  If  the  distance  from  the 
earth  to  the  sun  equals  one  inch,  the  earth  to  "61"  equals 
7 1  miles. 

(o)  is  a  double.     There  is  a  little  star  near  it. 

Half  way  from  Albireo  to  the  stars  (C)  and  (f)  in  Aquila  is 
a  group  of  six  or  seven  stars  in  a  straight  row,  with  a  garland  of 
other  stars  hanging  from  the  centre. 

The  cross  is  nearly  perfect  and  easily  traced  out.  It  lies 
almost  wholly  in  the  Milky  Way. 

Note      "The  Coal  Sack,"  the  dark  gap  in  the  Milky  Way. 

Cygnus  contains  an  unusual  number  of  deeply  colored  stars. 


•30 


CYGNUS 


1  Over 

Vega 

Head 


0  1 
Q 

-S^s 


Albireo 


0Enif 
e    in 
Pegasus 


DelpMnus  k 


Q 

V 
o 


Sagitta 

V? 


in 
Aquila 


37 


AQUILA   (ak'-wi-la)— THE  EAGLE,   AND  ANTlNOUS. 

(Face  Southeast.) 

LOCATION. — Half  way  up  the  sky  in  the  Milky  Way,  you  will 
see  three  stars  in  a  line,  the  middle  one  much  brighter  than  the 
other  two.  This  bright  star  is  Altair  in  Aquila.  It  forms  with 
Vega  and  Deneb  an  isosceles  triangle.  Altair  is  at  the  apex, 
about  35  degrees  from  the  other  two.  A  triangle  is  formed  by 
Vega,  Altair,  and  Ras  Alhague,  in  the  Serpent  Bearer,  which  is 
about  30  degrees  west  of  Altair. 

This  is  a  double  constellation  composed  of  Aquila  and  Anti- 
nous.  Altair  is  in  the  neck  of  the  eagle,  Alschain  in  the  head  of 
Antinous. 

When  the  moon  is  absent,  a  rude  arrow  head  can  be  traced  out, 
embracing  almost  all  the  stars  in  Aquila.  For  forty  hours  (r/) 
remains  bright,  diminishes  for  sixty-six  hours  to  minimum 
brightness,  and  is  stationary  in  brilliancy  for  thirty  hours. 

Aquila  dates  back  1200  B.C. 


o 

Vulpecula 
and 

Ar.ser 


QAlbireo 
in 

Cygnua 


O^ Sagitta 


ANTINOUS 


39 


DELPHINUS  (del-fi'-nus)— THE  DOLPHIN,  OR  JOB'S 
COFFIN.     (Face  Southeast.) 

LOCATION. — The  little  cluster  of  five  stars  forming  Delphinus 
is  to  be  seen  about  10  degrees  northeast  of  Altair,  and,  though 
there  are  no  bright  stars  in  the  roup,  it  can  hardly  escape 
notice.  A  line  drawn  from  Vega  to  Albireo,  and  prolonged 
about  20  degrees,  strikes  the  star  (f)  in  the  tail  of  the  Dolphin. 
The  four  other  stars  of  prominence  in  the  constellation  are  a 
little  above  (f),  and  form  a  diamond-shaped  figure. 

The  little  asterisms  Sagitta,  the  Arrow,  and  Vulpecula  and 
Anser,  the  Fox  and  Goose,  are  shown  just  above  Delphinus. 

Delphinus  is  also  called  Job's  Coffin.  The  origin  of  this  ap- 
pellation is  unknown. 

In  Greece,  Delphinus  was  the  Sacred  Fish,  the  sky  emblem 
of  philanthropy.  The  Arabs  called  it  the  "Riding  Camel." 


40 


DELPHI N  US 

4         4 
Rotanen  \  4    faSca!ovin 


9  Vulpeculaf  Albireo 


Deneb 


C)  Altair 
W     in 
/     Aquila 


Tega    j 

in     f~\ 

Lyra^ 


SAGITTARIUS  (saj-i-ta'-ri-us)— THE  ARCHER.   (Fac^ 
South.) 

LOCATION. — A  line  drawn  from  Deneb,  in  Cygnus,  to  Altair, 
in  Aquila,  and  prolonged  an  equal  distance,  terminates  in 
Sagittarius,  about  10  degrees  east  of  its  distinguishing  charac- 
teristic, the  Milk  Dipper.  Sagittarius  is  one  of  the  signs  of  the 
Zodiac,  and  lies  between  Capricornus,  on  the  east,  and  Scorpio, 
on  the  west. 

The  star  groupings  in  this  constellation  are  very  character- 
istic. 

The  bow  of  the  Archer  is  easily  traced  out. 

The  star  (y)  is  the  tip  of  the  arrow. 

Note  the  star  (/u  ),  which  serves  to  point  out  the  Winter 
Solstice. 

On  a  clear  night,  the  pretty  cluster  known  as  Corona  Australis, 
the  Southern  Crown,  can  be  seen  about  10  degrees  below  the 
"bowl  of  the  Milk  Dipper.  Its  lucida,  the  fourth-magnitude  star 
Alfecca  Meridiana,  culminates  Aug.  i3th. 

Sagittarius  is  about  due  south,  in  a  splendid  position  for 
observation,  during  the  month  of  July,  between  the  hours  of 
nine-thirty  and  eleven  o'clock  P.M. 

Note  the  fine  clusters  24  M.  and  8  M.,  also  an  almost  circular 
black  void  near  the  stars  (y}  and  (<3),  and  to  the  east  of  this 
spot  another  of  narrow  crescent  form. 


,  <3  ca 

\$S                         Media  k.^7         o 
Ascella  ^SAGITTARIUS     |J •  Al  Nasl 


Arkab 


o    Corona  Australis 

4  o  The  Southern  Crown 

Rukbat* 


O1 

O 

p- 


43 


OPHIUCHUS  (of-i-u'-kus)— THE  SERPENT  BEARER,  AND 
SERPENS.     (Face  Southwest.) 

LOCATION. — A  line  drawn  from  («)  Delphinus  to  (y}  in  Aquila, 
prolonged  about  30  degrees,  strikes  the  star  Ras  Alhague,  the 
brightest  star  in  the  constellation  and  the  head  of  Ophiuchus. 
It  is  at  one  angle  of  an  isosceles  triangle,  of  which  Altair  is  at 
the  apex,  and  Vega  the  third  angle. 

Two  constellations  are  here  combined.  Ophiuchus  is  repre- 
sented as  an  old  man,  holding  in  his  hands  a  writhing  serpent. 

Ras  Algethi,  the  head  of  Hercules,  lies  just  west  of  Ras 
Alhague. 

Equally  distant  southeast  and  southwest  of  Ras  Alhague, 
are  to  be  seen  two  stars  close  together,  representing  the  shoulders 
of  Ophiuchus.  His  foot  rests  on  the  Scorpion  just  above 
Antares. 

The  head  of  Serpens  is  the  star  group  in  the  form  of  an  "X" 
just  below  the  Crown. 

1604  indicates  the  spot  where  in  that  year  a  famous  temporary 
star  appeared,  called  Kepler's  star. 

Note  the  diamond  group  of  stars  below  the  "X",  outlined  in 
dotted  line,  and  the  asterism  "The  Bull  of  Poniatowskia"  just 
east  of  00. 


44 


Corona  Borealis 


V  Bull  of 

\       Poniatowskia   ^ 


Sobieski's 
oSMeldo 


s 


Y\  \Mar?%) 

OPHIUCHUS     \        /    i 


"""ariS 


Q  Antarea 
^^  in  Scorpio 


45 


SCORPIO  (sk6r/-pi-6)—  THE  SCORPION.     (Face  South.) 

LOCATION.  —  Scorpio,  one  of  the  signs  of  the  Zodiac,  is  a  beauti- 
ful star  group,  and  one  that  is  easily  traced  out.  It  lies  just 
under  the  Serpent  Bearer,  between  Sagittarius  and  Libra. 

The  resemblance  to  a  Scorpion  is  not  difficult  to  see,  hence 
this  constellation  is  perhaps  the  most  aptly  named  of  any. 

The  ruddy  star  Antares,  the  brightest  star  in  the  constellation, 
is  in  the  heart  of  the  Scorpion.  It  lies  about  40  degrees  south- 
west of  Ras  Alhague,  in  Ophiuchus,  and  a  little  over  20  degrees 
west  of  the  bow  of  Sagittarius.  The  fact  that  it  is  the  most 
brilliant  star  in  this  region  of  the  sky  renders  its  identity 
unmistakable. 

There  are  several  star  clusters  and  double  stars  to  be  seen 
in  this  constellation.  Their  position  is  indicated  in  the  diagram. 

The  curved  tail  of  the  Scorpion  is  very  conspicuous.  The 
stars  Lesuth  and  Shaula  are  a  striking  pair  and  the  fine  clusters 
above  them  can  be  seen  with  the  naked  eye. 

The  ecliptic  passes  close  to  (ft)  Scorpii.  A  record  of  its 
occultation  by  the  moon  295  B.C.  is  extant. 

Note  a  pair  just  below  (/?).     They  are  known  as  (a?1)    and 


Note  a  small  pentagon,  Antares  being  at  one  of  its  points, 
also  a  small  "X"  of  stars  just  west  of  (it}. 

Scorpio  is  famous  as  the  region  of  the  sky  where  have  appeared 
many  of  the  brilliant  temporary  stars,  the  first  one  in  astro- 
nomical annals  being  discovered  in  134  B.C. 


\ 


Libra    - 

V" 


47 


LIBRA  (li'-bra)— THE  SCALES.     (Face  Southwest.) 

LOCATION. — Libra  is  one  of  the  signs  of  the  Zodiac,  and  lies 
between  Virgo  and  Scorpio.  Its  two  chief  stars,  (a)  and  (/?), 
may  be  readily  recognized  west  of  and  above  the  head  of  the 
Scorpion. 

The  star  d)  Librse  is  about  20  degrees  northwest  of  Antares 
in  the  Scorpion.  Spica  in  Virgo,  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude, 
is  a  little  over  20  degrees  northwest  of  (a)  Librae. 

A  quadrilateral  is  formed  by  the  stars  a,  /3,  y ,  i,  which  charac- 
terizes the  constellation. 

The  star  (a)  Libras  looks  elongated.  An  opera-glass  shows 
that  it  has  a  fifth-magnitude  companion. 

(/?)  is  a  pale  green  star.     Its  color  is  very  unusual. 

Lyra,  Corona,  and  Hercules  are  almost  directly  overhead  in  the 
early  evening, during  July  and  August,  and  can  best  be  observed 
in  a  reclining  position.  Thus  placed,  with  an  opera-glass  to 
assist  the  vision,  you  may  study  to  the  best  advantage  the  won- 
derful sight  spread  out  before  you,  and  search  depths  only 
measured  by  the  power  of  your  glass. 


48 


Zubenescharaali 


i — 


o 


Of   THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


CORONA  BOREALIS  (ko-ro'na  bo-re-a'-lis)— THE  NORTH* 
ERN  CROWN. 

LOCATION. — A  line  drawn  from  Deneb,  in  Cygnus,  to  Vega,  in 
Lyra,  and  projected  a  little  over  40  degrees,  terminates  in  the 
Crown,  which  lies  between  Hercules  and  Bootes,  and  just  above 
the  diamond-shaped  group  of  stars  in  the  head  of  the  Serpent. 

The  characteristic  semicircle  resembling  a  crown  is  easily 
traced  out.  The  principal  stars  are  of  the  fourth  magnitude 
excepting  Gemma,  which  is  a  second-magnitude  star. 

Gemma,  sometimes  called  Alphacca,  forms  with  the  stars 
Seginus  and  Arcturus,  'in  Bootes,  an  isosceles  triangle,  the 
vertex  of  which  is  at  Arcturus.  A  line  drawn  from  Vega  in 
Lyra  to  Arcturus  in  BoStes  passes  through  Corona.  The  star 
letters  in  Corona  spell  "Bagdei." 

Note  "r"  Coronae,  a  star  that  appeared  suddenly  May  12, 
1866,  as  a  second-magnitude  star.  It  was  known  as  the  "  Blaze 
Star"  and  was  visible  to  the  naked  eye  only  eight  days,  fading 
at  that  time  to  a  tenth-magnitude  star,  and  then  rising  to  an 
eighth-magnitude,  where  it  still  remains. 


••• 


tDraco 
o 


Benetnasch 

in         O 
Ursa  Major 


\ 

x      o       \  CORONA 

\    $       \       BOREALIS 
J>-v-^ 


\ 
\ 

\ 


/% 

/    ^      N\3  Seginng 

<'    «0..    \ 


6  Ras  Algethi 

s  Alhague 


V     The  Head 
/  \         of  the 
•-A     Serpent 


\\, 


Arctonw 


i  Spica 
\J     in 
Virgo 


HERCULES  (her'-ku-lez)— THE  KNEELER. 

LOCATION. — A  line  drawn  from  either  Vega,  in  Lyra,  or 
Altair,  in  Aquila,  to  Gemma,  in  Corona  Borealis,  passes  through 
this  constellation.  The  left  foot  of  Hercules  rests  on  the  head 
of  Draco,  on  the  north,  and  his  head  nearly  touches  the  head 
of  Ophiuchus  on  the  south. 

The  star  in  the  head  of  Hercules,  Ras  Algethi,  is  about  25 
degrees  southeast  of  Corona  Borealis. 

Ras  Alhague,  the  head  of  Ophiuchus,  and  Ras  Algethi  are 
only  about  5  degrees  apart. 

The  cluster  13  M,  the  Halley  Nebula,  can  be  easily  seen  in 
an  opera-glass.  It  contains  fourteen  thousand  stars,  according 
to  Herschel. 

Hercules  occupies  the  part  of  the  heavens  toward  which  the 
sun  is  bearing  the  earth  and  planets  at  the  rate  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  million  miles  a  year. 

On  a  clear  night  the  asterism  Cerberus,  the  three-headed  dog, 
which  Hercules  holds  in  his  hand,  can  be  seen. 

The  belt  of  Hercules  lies  just  east  of  the  Crown. 

This  constellation  is  said  to  have  been  an  object  of  worship 
in  Phoenicia. 

The  principal  stars  in  the  constellation  form  a  rude  letter 
"H"  the  short  cross-stroke  being  the  imaginary  line  drawn 
from  s  to  C. 


9         Q^  The  Head 
\  \  of  Draco 


Gemma  Q 

in 
Corona  Borealis 


Ras  Alhague 
in  Ophiuchus 


53 


BOOTES  (bo-6'tez)— THE  HERDSMAN,  OR  BEAR  DRIVER. 
(Face  West.) 

LOCATION. — Bootes  lies  just  west  of  the  Crown,  and  east  of 
Cor  Caroli.  It  may  be  easily  distinguished  by  the  position  and 
splendor  of  its  principal  .star,  Arcturus,  which  shines  with  a 
golden  yellow  lustre.  It  is  about  35  degrees  east  of  Denebola, 
in  Leo,  and  nearly  as  far  north  of  Spica,  in  Virgo,  and  forms 
with  these  two  a  large  equilateral  triangle.  A  line  drawn  from 
(£)  to  (77)  Ursae  Majoris  and  prolonged  about  30  degrees  locates  it. 

The  brightest  stars  in  Bootes  outline  a  characteristic  kite- 
shaped  figure. 

Three  stars  of  the  fourth  magnitude  are  situated  in  the  right 
hand.  They  are  about  5  degrees  beyond  Benetnasch,  the  first 
star  in  the  handle  of  the  Dipper. 

It  takes  twenty-five  years  for  the  light  from  Arcturus  to  reach 
the  earth.  Contrast  its  color  with  Spica,  Antares,  and  Vega. 

The  trapezium  ft,  y,  6,  and  /u,  was  called  "  The  Female  Wolves," 
by  the  Arabians.  0,  i,  x,  and  A,  "The  Whelps  of  the  Hyenas." 


54 


Serpens 


0  Alkalurops 
V         3 


Nekkar 


Libra 


••1° 


Muphrid 


Cor  Carol!  -. 

in        T 

Canes  Venatici 


Spica 


Berenices 


ODenebola 
inLso 


55 


VIRGO  (ver'-go)— THE  VIRGIN.     (Face  West.) 

LOCATION. — An  imaginary  line  drawn  from  Antares  in 
Scorpio  through  (a)  Libras  and  prolonged  a  little  over  20  degrees 
strikes  Spica,  the  brightest  star  in  Virgo,  which  star  is  about  30 
degrees  southwest  of  Arcturus. 

Arcturus,  Cor  Caroli,  Denebola,  and  Spica  form  a  figure  about 
50  degrees  in  length,  called  the  Diamond  of  Virgo. 

The  stars  (it}  and  (£)  are  almost  exactly  on  the  equator  of 
the  heavens. 

The  star  («)  is  known  as  the  "  Grape  Gatherer."  It  is  observed 
to  rise  just  before  the  sun  at  vintage  time. 

Spica  is  used  for  determining  longitude  at  sea.  It  represents 
the  ear  of  corn  held  in  the  Virgin's  left  hand. 

Within  the  rude  square  formed  by  Denebola,  s,  y,  and  fi, 
Virginis,  the  telescope  reveals  many  wonderful  nebulas;  hence 
this  region  of  the  sky  has  been  called  "The  field  of  the  Nebula.'* 


"Benetnasch 
O          in 
Ursa  Major 


r     ,^- 


_r> 
~ 


Bo  otes 

\    / 

\i 

\l. 


Arcturus 


GOT  Caroli 

in         O 
Canes  Venatici 


Coma 
Berenices  o  ° 

oVg 


2 

O 


o 


Zavijava 


57 


CANES  VENATICI  (ka'-nez  ve-nat'-i-ci)-— THE  HUNTING 
DOGS.  (Face  Northwest.) 

LOCATION. — Cor  Caroli,  the  bright  star  in  this  constellation, 
when  on  the  meridian  is  about  17  degrees  south  of  Alioth  in 
Ursa  Major.  A  line  drawn  from  Benetnasch,  in  the  tail  of  the 
Great  Bear,  through  Berenice's  Hair,  to  Denebola  in  Leo, 
passes  through  it. 

The  dogs,  Asterion  and  Chara,  are  represented  as  being  held 
in  leash  by  Bootes,  the  herdsman,  in  his  pursuit  of  the  Great 
Bear. 

Cor  Caroli  is  in  the  southern  hound,  Chara,  and  represents  the 
heart  of  Charles  II  of  England. 

A  glance  at  the  diagram  of  Bootes  indicates  clearly  the  position 
of  this  constellation. 

The  so-called  "Diamond  of  Virgo,"  is  clearly  shown  on  this 
plate.  It  is  composed  of  the  stars  Cor  Caroli,  Denebola,  Spica, 
and  Arcturus. 

The  star  La  Superba  7  degrees  north  of  Cor  Caroli,  is  especially 
noteworthy  because  of  the  flashing  brilliancy  of  its  prismatic 
rays. 


Hercules 


"X.. 


8 
6 


rPens 


„'" 

d      Corona 
j.    Boi'ealis 

Gemma  ""^.^j 


\ 


, 


/ 

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' 


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< 


\ 

W 


Cauer 


O  Denebola  in  Leo 


\ 


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Coma 
.Berenices 

NX         LaSuperba 

^  Chara 

; 


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THE  CONSTELLATIONS  OF  AUTUMN 


N. 


GftUs 


CM£,CO«"US 


s. 

O  Stars  of  the  first  magnitude. 
^  Variable  stars. 
&  Febula. 

Map  shoeing  the  principal  stars  visible  from  Lat.  40  °  N.  at  9  o'clock,  October  first 
5  65 


CASSIOPEIA  (kas-i-o-pe'-ya)— THE  LADY  IN  THE  CHAIR. 
(Face  North.) 

LOCATION. — A  line  drawn  from  (<5)  Ursae  Majoris,  through 
Polaris,  strikes  (a)  Cassiopeiae.  It  is  situated  the  same  distance 
from  Polaris  as  Ursa  Major,  and  about  midway  between  Polaris 
and  the  zenith  in  the  Milky  Way.  Cassiopeia  is  characterized 
by  a  zigzag  row  of  stars  which  form  a  rude  "W,"  but  in  mid- 
autumn,  to  an  observer  facing  north,  the  "  W"  appears  more 
like  an  "M,"  and  is  almost  overhead.  Note  the  spot  marked 
1572.  This  is  where  a  very  famous  temporary  star  appeared 
in  that  year.  It  was  bright  enough  at  one  time  to  be  seen  in 
full  sunshine.  The  star  (77)  is  comparatively  near  to  us,  its 
light  taking  not  much  over  twenty  years  to  reach  us.  Caph  is 
almost  exactly  in  the  equinoctial  colure,  or  first  meridian.  It 
is  30  degrees  north  of  (a)  Andromedae,  with  which  and  the  Pole 
Star  and  (a)  Pegasi  it  forms  a  straight  line. 

Caph  is  equidistant  from  the  Pole,  and  exactly  opposite  the 
star  Megres  in  Ursa  Major;  with  (a)  Andromedse  and  (y}  Pegasi 
it  matks  the  equinoctial  colure.  These  stars  are  known  as 
"The  Three  Guides." 

The  chair  can  be  readily  traced  out,  bearing  in  mind  that  /?, 
a,  and  y  form  three  of  the  four  corners  of  the  back,  and  6  and  £, 
one  of  the  front  legs.  The  word  "  Bagdei, ' '  made  up  of  the  letters 
for  the  principal  stars,  assists  the  memory. 


66 


A. 


Oepheus 


Caroline  Herschel  «    Schedar 


Caph 


1672   Q 


CASSIOPEIA 


\ 


\ 


\ 


CEPHEUS  (se'-fus)  (Face  North.) 

LOCATION.— A  line  drawn  from  (a)  to  (ft)  Cassiopeiae  and 
prolonged  about  18  degrees  strikes  (a)  Cephi.  The  nearest 
bright  star  west  of  Polaris  is  (y)  Cephi.  Cepheus  is  an  incon- 
spicuous constellation,  lying  partly  in  the  Milky  Way.  A  view 
of  this  constellation  through  an  opera-glass  will  repay  the 
observer.  Cepheus  is  characterized  by  a  rude  square,  one  side 
of  which  is  the  base  of  an  isosceles  triangle.  Look  for  the  so- 
called  garnet  star  (//)»  probably  the  reddest  star  visible  to  the 
naked  eye  in  the  United  States.  The  star  (Q  has  a  blue  com- 
panion star. 

(tf)  forms  an  equilateral  triangle  with  Polaris  and  («)  Cas- 
siopeiae. 

(<5)  is  a  variable  double.  One  of  the  pair  is  yellow,  the  other 
blue. 

It  is  claimed  that  Cepheus  was  known  to  the  Chaldasans 
twenty-three  centuries  before  our  era. 

Surrounding  8,  ?.,  £,  and  A,  which  mark  the  king's  head,  is  a 
vacant  space  in  the  Milky  Way,  similar  to  the  Coal  Sack  of 
Cygnus. 


63 


ODeneb 
a      in 
Cygnus 


'  (Var.)  Double 


Alderamin 


Draco 


Polaris 


69 


PEGASUS  (peg'-a-sus)— THE  WINGED  HORSE.   (Face 
South.) 

LOCATION. — One  corner  of  the  Great  Square  is  found  by  draw- 
ing a  line  from  Polaris  to  Cassiopeia,  and  prolonging  it  an  equal 
distance. 

The  Great  Square  is  a  stellar  landmark.  Three  of  the  corners 
of  the  square  are  marked  by  stars  in  Pegasus;  the  fourth,  ana 
northeastern,  corner  is  marked  by  the  star  Alpheratz  in 
Andromeda. 

The  horse  is  generally  seen  upside  down,  with  his  fore  feet 
projected  up  into  the  sky.  Only  the  head,  neck,  and  fore  feet 
are  represented.  The  star  Enif  is  in  the  nose  of  Pegasus. 

The  star  (TT)  is  an  interesting  double,  easily  seen  in  an  opera- 
glass. 

The  position  of  the  asterism  Equus  or  Eqiileus,  the  Little 
Horse,  or  Horse's  Head,  is  shown  in  the  diagram. 

Delphinus,  the  water  jar  of  Aquarius,  and  the  circlet  in  the 
Western  Fish,  are  all  in  the  vicinity  of  Pegasus,  and  indicated 
in  the  diagram. 

The  winged  horse  is  found  on  coins  of  Corinth  500  to  430  B.C. 
The  Greeks  called  this  constellation  ZTTTTO?. 

Pegasus  seems  to  have  been  regarded  in  Phoenicia  and  Egypt 
as  the  sky  emblem  of  a  ship. 

Within  the  area  of  the  Square  Argelander  counted  thirty   na- 
ked-eye stars. 
Note  a  fine  pair  in  Eqiileus  just  west  of  the  star  Enif  in  Pegasus. 


70 


Double 


Alpheratz    ' 

in          L/- Scheat  2 

Andromeda  fa  "~-  — A 


Algenlb 


Enif 


Equiileus 


ANDROMEDA  (an-drom'-e-da)— THE  CHAINED  LADY. 

LOCATION. — The  star  (a)  Alpheratz  is  at  the  northeastern 
corner  of  the  great  square  of  Pegasus,  one  of  the  stellar  land- 
marks. 

Running  east  from  (a-),  at  almost  equal  distances,  are  four 
other  stars,  two  of  which  are  of  the  second  magnitude.  The  most 
easterly  one  is  (/?)  Persei,  known  as  Algol,  the  famous  variable. 
The  stars  (7)  Andromedae,  Algol,  and  (a)  Persei  form  a  right- 
angled  triangle. 

The  chief  object  of  interest  in  this  constellation  is  the  great 
nebula,  the  first  to  be  discovered.  It  can  be  seen  by  the  naked 
eye  and  it  is  a  fine  sight  in  an  opera-glass.  Its  location  is 
indicated  in  the  diagram. 

The  star  (/)  is  the  radiant  point  of  the  Bielid  meteors,  looked 
for  in  November.  It  is  a  colored  double  for  a  powerful  glass. 

The  great  nebula  has  been  called  the  "Queen  of  the  Nebulae." 
It  is  said  to  have  been  known  as  far  back  as  A.D.  905,  and  it 
was  described  before  A.D.  as  the  "Little  Cloud." 

Andromeda  is  very  favorable  for  observation  in  September, 
low  in  the  eastern  sky. 

Note  the  characteristic  "Y"  shaped  asterism  known  as 
Gloria  Frederica  or  Frederic's  Glory.  It  lies  about  at  the  apex 
of  a  nearly  isosceles  triangle  of  which  a  line  connecting  Al- 
pheratz and  (#)  Pegasi  is  the  base.  A  line  drawn  from  (6) 
to  (a)  Cassiopeiae  and  prolonged  a  little  over  twice  its  length 
points  it  out. 


72 


O  Algol 


<r 

\  4      Gloria 
•^W  4 

~~-l  Frederika 


73 


PERSEUS  (per'-sus)— THE  CHAMPION.     (Face  Northeast.) 

LOCATION. — (a)  Persei  lies  on  a  line  drawn  from  (ft)  to  (y) 
Andromedae,  and  is  about  9  degrees  from  the  latter.  The 
most  striking  feature  in  Perseus  is  the  so-called  "segment  of 
Perseus,"  a  curve  of  stars  beginning  about  12  degrees  below 
Cassiopeia,  and  curving  toward  Ursa  Major.  Note  the  famous 
variable  Algol.  It  represents  the  Medusa's  head  which  Perseus 
holds  in  his  hand.  It  varies  from  the  second  to  the  fourth 
magnitude  in  about  three  and  one-half  hours,  and  back  again 
in  the  same  time,  after  which  it  remains  steadily  brilliant  for 
two  and  three-quarters  days,  when  the  same  change  recurs. 
Algenib  and  Algol  form  with  (y)  Andromedae,  a  right-angled 
triangle. 

Note  the  cluster  34  M.  and  a  fine  one  half  way  between 
Perseus  and  Cassiopeia  seen  with  the  naked  eye,  a  dull  red 
star  near  Algol,  and  a  pretty  pair  just  above  Algenib. 

(f)>  (Qi  and  (o)  form  a  small  right-triangle. 

An  opera-glass  reveals  much  that  is  worthy  of  observation 
in  this  region  of  the  sky.  It  has  been  said  of  the  clusters  in 
Perseus  that  they  form  the  most  striking  sidereal  spectacle 
in  the  northern  heavens.  Algenib  never  sets  in  the  latitude  of 
New  York,  just  touching  the  horizon  at  its  lower  culmination- 
It  is  estimated  that  Algol  is  a  little  over  a  million  miles  in 
diameter.  (?/)  has  three  small  stars  on  one  side  nearly  in  a  line, 
and  one  on  the  other — a  miniature  representation  of  Jupiter  and 
his  satellites. 


74 


Andromeda 


:V>34M. 


i 
O 

Cayella 


Algol  in  the 
Head  of  Medusa 
a  famous  variable 


Atttt 


The  Pleiades 
in  Taurus 


PISCES   (pis'ez)— THE  FISHES.     (Face  Southeast.) 

LOCATION. — This  constellation  is  represented  by  two  fishes 
each  with  a  ribbon  tied  to  its  tail.  One,  the  Northern  Fish, 
lies  just  below  (ft}  Andromedas, — the  other,  represented  by  the 
circlet,  is  just  below  Pegasus.  The  ribbons,  represented  by 
streams  of  faint  stars,  form  a  "V"  with  elongated  sides,  and 
terminate  in  the  star  Al  Rischa,  The  Knot. 

Below  (GO),  and  to  the  east  of  (A)  the  spot  marked  (*)  is  the 
place  which  the  sun  occupies  at  the  time  of  the  equinox.  It  is 
one  of  the  two  crossing  places  of  the  equinoctial,  or  equator  of 
the  heavens,  and  the  ecliptic  or  sun's  path. 

Below  Pisces  is  Cetus,  the  Whale. 

Pisces  is  thought  to  have  taken  its  name  from  its  coincidence 
with  the  sun  during  the  rainy  season. 

Three  distinct  conjunctions  of  Jupiter  and  Saturn  took  place 
in  this  constellation  in  the  year  747  of  Rome. 

Pisces  was  considered  the  national  constellation  of  the  Jews, 
as  well  as  a  tribal  symbol. 

In  1 88 1,  Jupiter,  Saturn,  and  Venus  were  grouped  together 
in  Pisces. 

The  Circlet  is  a  very  striking  group  forming  a  pentagon.  The 
glass  reveals  two  faint  stars  in  addition,  making  the  figure 
seven-sided  or  elliptical  in  form. 


Al  Rischa 
The  Knot 


fc  ? 

\ 


77 


TRIANGULA    (tri-an'-gu-la)— THE   TRIANGLES.     (Face 

East.) 

LOCATION. — A  line  drawn  from  the  star  Algenib  in  Pegasus 
to  Algol  in  Perseus  passes  through  (ft}  Triangulae. 

The  triangle  is  clearly  denned  and  a  beautiful  figure.  It  lies 
just  below  Andromeda,  and  above  Aries. 

Triangula  is  a  very  ancient  constellation,  being  formerly 
named  Deltoton,  from  the  Greek  letter  Delta  (A)- 

The  stars  (8),  (y),  and  a  third  star  near  them  form  a  very 
pretty  triangle. 

This  constellation  is  called  both  Triangulum  (The  Triangle) 
and  Triangula  (The  Triangles).  The  latter  name  seems  to  be 
favored  by  many  of  the  modern  astronomers,  although  but  one 
triangle  composes  the  constellation. 


TRIANQULA 


•y 

(The  Fly)  rf 


79 


AQUARIUS    (a-kwa'-ri-us)—  THE  WATER  CARRIER. 
(Face  Southwest.) 

LOCATION. — A  line  drawn  from  Q3)  Pegasi  to  (cr)  of  the  same 
constellation,  and  prolonged  as  iar  again,  ends  just  east  of  the 
so-called  water  jar  of  Aquarius,  which  is  formed  by  a  group 
of  four  stars  in  the  form  of  a  "  Y,"  as  indicated  in  the  diagram. 
The  Arabians  called  these  four  stars  a  tent. 

The  jar  is  represented  as  inverted,  allowing  a  stream  of  water 
represented  by  dim  stars  in  pairs  and  groups  of  three  stars,  to 
descend,  ending  in  the  bright  star  Fomalhaut,  the  mouth  of 
the  Southern  Fish. 

A  rough  map  of  South  America  can  be  traced  in  the  stars 
0,  A,  T,  S,  02,  i. 

A  rude  dipper  can  be  made  out  in  the  western  part  of  the 
constellation,  formed  of  the  stars  a,  p,  r,  E. 

The  stars  (r)  and  (104)  are  doubles.  Of  the  former  pair, 
one  is  white,  the  other  orange  in  color.  Fomalhaut  was  the 
object  of  sunrise  worship  in  the  temple  of  Demeter  at  Eleusis 
in  500  B.C. 

(or)  is  one  degree  south  of  the  celestial  equator. 

In  the  vicinity  of  (5),  Mayer  observed  in  1756  what  he  termed 
a  fixed  star.  Herschel  thought  it  a  comet.  It  proved  to  be 
the  planet  Uranus. 

(a)  is  almost  exactly  on  the  celestial  equator. 

(A)  is  a  red  star,  the  most  prominent  of  the  first  stars  in  the 
stream.  The  stars  in  Piscis  Australis  can  be  traced  out  with 
an  opera-j 


So 


The  Water  Jar 
4 


SadalHelik 


y       a 

K  •  Situla 
AQUARIUS 

Ancha 


/S 

/ 

4  /''_-- - 


L   Double 
Skat 


Sadal  Suud  4 


.1, 


Fomalhaut  Pisci8 

a 


81 


CAPRICORNUS  (kap-ri-kor'-nus)— - THE  SEA  GOAT.     (Face 

Southwest.) 

LOCATION. — A  line  drawn  from  (a)  Pegasi  through  (£)  and 
(0)  in  the  same  constellation,  and  projected  about  25  degrees, 
strikes  (a)  and  (ft)  in  Capricornus. 

This  constellation  contains  three  principal  stars — (a)  and  (ft) 
mentioned  above,  and  (d)  about  20  degrees  east  of  them. 

The  water  jar  of  Aquarius  is  about  the  same  distance  north- 
east of  (5)  Capricorni  that  Fomalhaut,  in  the  Southern  Fish, 
is  southeast  of  it. 

(a)  has  a  companion  which  can  be  seen  by  the  naked  eye. 
It  is  a  fine  sight  in  an  opera-glass.  These  two  stars  are  gradually 
separating. 

(ft)  is  a  double  star,  one  being  blue,  the  other  yellow. 

The  constellation  resembles  a  chapeau,  or  peaked  hat,  upside 
down. 

The  stars  in  the  head  of  the  Sea  Goat,  (a)  and  (ft),  are  only 
2  degrees  apart,  and  can  hardly  he  mistaken  by  an  observer 
facing  the  southwestern  sky  during  the  early  evening  in  autumn. 

Five  degrees  east  of  (3)  is  the  point  announced  by  Le  Verrier 
as  the  position  of  his  predicted  new  planet,  Neptune. 

Flammarion  claims  that  the  Chinese  astronomers  noted  the 
five  planets  in  conjunction  in  Capricornus,  in  the  year  2449  B.C. 


82 


Secunda  Qiedi 
Prima  Giedl 


ARIES  (a'-ri-ez) — THE  RAM.   (Face  Southeast.) 

LOCATION. — The  star  (a)  in  Aries,  known  as  Hamal,  and 
sometimes  as  Arietis,  a  star  of  the  second  magnitude,  is  about 
7  degrees  south  of  (cr)  Triangulae.  A  line  drawn  from  the  Pole 
Star  to  (y)  Andromedae,  and  prolonged  about  20  degrees,  ends 
at  Hamal. 

Aries  contains  three  principal  stars,  forming  a  characteristic 
obtuse-angled  triangle. 

The  star  (y)  Mesarthim  was  the  first  double  star  ever  dis- 
covered. A  telescope  is  required  to  split  it.  Hamal  lies  near 
the  path  of  the  moon,  and  is  one  of  tjie  stars  from  which  longi- 
tude is  reckoned. 

Below  Aries  may  be  seen  the  characteristic  pentagon  in  the 
head  of  Cetus,  the  Whale. 

More  than  two  thousand  years  ago  Aries  was  the  leading  con- 
stellation of  the  Zodiac,  and  now  stands  first  in  the  list  of  Zo- 
diacal signs. 

The  Arabians  knew  this  constellation  as  Al  Hamal,  the  Ship. 


84 


£=> 


_Algol 

°    in  Triangula 

Perseus 

\      The 
\Northern 
\Fish 

Harnal|--^-J4Slieratan 

\  Mesarthim 
ARIES     * 


Musca  -  The  Fly 


,\ 
\ 


AlRischa, 
Oetus 


I 

y 


CETUS  (se'-tus)— THE   WHALE.       (Face  Southeast.) 

LOCATION. — A  line  drawn  from  Polaris,  to  (<3)  Cassiopeia, 
and  prolonged  two  and  one  third  times  its  original  length, 
reaches  the  centre  of  this  constellation. 

It  lies  just  below  Aries  and  the  Triangles,  and  resembles  the 
figure  of  the  prehistoric  icthyosaurus,  while  some  see  in  the 
outline  an  easy  chair.  The  head  of  the  beast  is  characterized 
by  a  clearly  traced  pentagon,  about  20  degrees  southeast  of 
Aries.  The  brightest  star  in  the  constellation  is  (rr)  Menkar, 
of  the  second  magnitude.  It  is  at  one  apex  of  the  pentagon, 
about  15  degrees  east  of  Al  Rischa  in  Pisces,  and  37  degrees 
directly  south  of  Algol,  (ft.  Persei). 

The  noted  variable  Mira  («)  is  the  chief  object  of  interest 
in  the  constellation.  It  is  a  little  over  10  degrees  southwest  of 
Menkar,  and  7  degrees  southeast  of  Al  Rischa.  It  changes  from 
a  star  of  the  second  magnitude  so  as  to  become  invisible  once  in 
three  hundred  and  thirty-four  days.  Ten  degrees  south  of  it 
are  four  small  stars  about  3  degrees  apart,  in  the  breast  and 
paws.  These  form  a  square. 

The  body  of  the  creature  is  kite-shaped.  (£)  is  a  naked-eye 
double. 

Mira  lies  almost  exactly  on  a  line  joining  (y)  and  (£),  a  little 
nearer  the  former. 


86 


, 


The 

Great  Square 
of  Pegasus 


Menkar 


Eridanus 


87 


MUSCA  (mus'-ka)— THE  FLY.     (Face  Southeast.) 

LOCATION. — Musca  lies  between  Triangula  and  Aries,  the 
diagram  clearly  denning  its  position. 

The  four  stars  composing  it  form  a  group  shaped  like  the 
letter  "Y." 

There  is  nothing  of  particular  interest  to  be  noted  in  this 
asterism. 


88 


i/ruscA 

4 


A 

3.  \    Triangula 


Aries 


x 

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89 


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The  Bielids. 
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THE   CONSTELLATIONS  OF  WINTER 


ft-1 


O    Sf ara  o/  tft«  first  magnitude . 
A   Variable  stars. 

•:•;•,•;  Nebula. 

Map  showing  the  principal  stars  visible  from  Lat.  400  N.  at  9  o'clock,  January  fust 

95 


TAURUS  (ta'-rus)— THE  BULL.     (Face  Southwest) . 

LOCATION. — Taurus  contains  the  well-known  and  unmistak- 
able group  the  Pleiades,  on  the  right  shoulder  of  the  Bull.  A 
"V"  shaped  group  known  as  the  Hyades  is  just  to  the  southeast 
of  the  Pleiades,  in  the  face  of  the  Bull,  forming  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  objects  in  the  sky. 

The  brightest  star  in  Taurus  is  Aldebaran,  a  ruddy-hued  star 
known  as  "The  Follower."  It  is  at  the  beginning  of  the  "V" 
in  the  Hyades,  and  is  at  the  apex  of  a  triangle  formed  by  Capella, 
in  Auriga,  and  (a;  Persei,  and  equally  distant  from  them  both. 

The  star  (^),  called  Nath,  is  peculiarly  white,  and  is  common  to 
Taurus  and  Auriga.  It  represents  the  tip  of  one  of  the  Bull's 
horns,  and  the  right  foot  of  the  Charioteer.  The  Pleiades  are 
mentioned  in  Chinese  annals  in  2357  B.C. 

The  ecliptic  passes  a  little  south  of  a  point  midway  between 
the  two  horns,  where  a  scattered  and  broken  stream  of  minute 
stars  can  be  seen. 

Note  two  pretty  pairs  in  the  Hyades,  one  south  of  Aldebaran, 
the  other  northwest  of  it. 

There  are  rich  clusters  below  the  tip  of  the  horn  over  Orion's 
head. 

Taurus  was  an  important  object  of  worship  by  the  Druids. 

Aldebaran  is  near  one  eye  of  the  Bull,  and  used  to  be  called 
"the  Bull's  Eye."  An  occultation  of  it  by  the  moon,  which  not 
infrequently  occurs,  is  a  striking  phenomenon. 


96 


o 


QBetelgeuze 
Orion 


ORION  (6-ri'-on)— THE  GIANT  HUNTER.     (Face  South.) 

LOCATION. — Orion  is  considered  the  finest  constellation  in 
the  heavens.  A  line  drawn  from  Nath  to  (C)  in  Taurus  (the 
tips  of  the  Bull's  horns) ,  and  extended  1 5  degrees,  strikes  the 
brilliant  Betelgeuze  in  Orion,  known  as  the  martial  star.  It 
forms  the  northeast  corner  of  a  conspicious  parallelogram. 
The  splendid  first-magnitude  star  Rigel  is  diagonally  opposite 
Betelgeuze,  and  the  girdle  and  sword  of  the  Hunter  lie  within 
the  parallelogram,  a  very  striking  group.  The  former  is  repre- 
sented by  three  bright  stars  in  a  line  known  as  the  "Three 
Stars,"  because  there  are  no  other  stars  in  the  heavens  that 
exactly  resemble  them  in  position  and  brightness. 

In  the  sword  there  is  the  most  remarkable  nebula  in  the  heav- 
ens. Its  wonders  are  revealed  only  in  a  telescope.  Bellatrix 
is  called  the  Amazon  star. 

About  9  degrees  west  of  Bellatrix  are  eight  stars  in  a  curved 
line  running  north  and  south.  These  point  out  the  Lion's  skin 
held  in  the  Hunter's  left  hand. 

Below  Meissa  there  are  two  stars  forming  a  triangle  with  it. 
Flammarion  calls  this  region  t^ e  California  of  the  sky. 

The  celestial  equator  passes  nearly  through  (5). 

Orion  was  worshipped  in  China  during  the  one  thousand 
years  before  our  era,  and  was  known  to  the  Chinese  as  the 
"White  Tiger." 


98 


Q  Alhena 

in 
Gemini 


Taurus 


The 

Lion'a 

Skin 


idanus 


rSaiph. 


99 


LEPUS  (le'-pus)— THE  HARE.     (Face  South.) 

LOCATION. — Lepus  crouches  under  Orion's  feet.  Four  stars 
of  the  third  magnitude  form  an  irregular  and  conspicuous 
square. 

The  star  (^),  a  beautiful  double  of  a  greenish  hue,  is  southwest 
of  Rigel,  and  north  of  Columba. 

Four  or  five  degrees  south  of  Rigel  are  four  faint  stars  which 
are  in  the  ear  of  the  hare.  They  can  be  seen  on  a  clear  night 
with  the  naked  eye. 

Arneb  is  the  brightest  star  in  the  constellation  and  is  situated 
about  in  the  centre  of  it. 

The  curved  line  of  three  stars  0,  77,  and  C,  are  in  the  back  of 
the  hare. 

Lepus  is  about  18  degrees  west  of  Canis  Major,  and,  by  reason 
of  the  earth's  motion,  the  Great  Dog  seems  to  be  pursuing  the 
Hare  around  the  heavens. 


TOO 


Saiph 


Orion 


O  Rieel 


4 

4 

^ 

4 

• 

i.  Sirius 

•-^ 

.-—  •*—-  • 

7? 

A 

•J     in 

e 

*\ 

Canis  Major 

\. 

Ooluraba 


O    O 

(9 


101 


COLUMBA  NOACHI   (co-lum'-ba  no-a'-ki)— NOAH'S  DOVE. 
(Face  South.) 

LOCATION. — Columba  is  situated  just  south  of  Lepus.  A 
line  drawn  from  Rigel,  in  Orion,  to  (/?)  Leporis,  and  prolonged 
as  far  again,  ends  near  (a)  and  (yS),  the  two  brightest  stars  in 
Columba. 

A  line  drawn  from  the  easternmost  star  in  the  belt  of  Orion, 
32  degrees  directly  south,  will  point  out  Phaet,  in  Columba. 
It  makes  with  Sirius,  in  Canis  Major,  and  Naos,  in  the  Ship, 
a  large  equilateral  triangle. 

The  star  (fi}  Columbae  may  be  known  by  means  of  a  smaller 
star  just  east  of  it,  marked  (y). 

With  an  opera-glass  a  rude  rectangle  can  be  seen.  Its  position 
is  traced  in  dotted  lines  on  the  diagram. 


102 


Sirius 


COLU  M  BA 


O 

\ 


-03 


CANIS  MAJOR  (ka'-nis  ma-jor)— THE  GREATER  DOG 

(Face  South.) 

LOCATION. — The  three  stars  in  Orion's  girdle  point  southeast 
to  Sirius,  the  dog  star,  in  Canis  Major,  the  most  brilliant  star  in 
the  heavens.  It  was  connected  in  the  minds  of  the  Egyptians 
with  the  rising  of  the  Nile,  and  is  receding  from  the  earth  at 
the  rate  of  twenty  miles  a  second.  Seventeen  years  are  required 
for  its  light  to  reach  us.  There  is  a  tiny  star  near  Sirius. 

The  star  (v)  is  a  triple.  The  cluster  (41  M.)  can  be  seen 
with  an  opera-glass,  just  below  it. 

Between  (3)  and  («»)  note  a  remarkable  array  of  minute 
stars,  also  the  very  red  star  (22). 

(<5)  and  (C)  are  doubles  for  an  opera-glass. 

Below  (77)  there  is  a  fine  group. 

Betelgeuze,  in  Orion,  Procyon,  in  Canis  Minor,  and  Sirius 
form  a  nearly  equilateral  triangle.  These  stars  with  Naos,  in 
the  Ship,  and  Phaet,  in  the  Dove,  form  a  huge  figure  known  as 
the  Egyptian  "X." 

From  earliest  times  Sirius  has  been  known  a's  the  Dog  of 
Orion. 


104 


;.  50  M 


Muliphen   *Var.  1 


Sirius 


Murzim. 


Furud 


Saiph 

in 
Orion 


A 


Phaet  in 
Columba 


105 


ARGO  NAVIS  (ar'-go  na'-vis)— THE  SHIP  ARGO.    (Face 

South.) 

LOCATION. — Argo  is  situated  southeast  of  Canis  Major.  If 
a  line  joining  Betelgeuze  and  Sirius  be  prolonged  18  degrees 
southeast,  it  will  point  out  Naos,  a  star  of  the  second  magnitude 
in  the  rowlock  of  the  Ship.  This  star  is  in  the  southeast  corner 
of  the  ^Egyptian  "X." 

The  star  (it}  is  of  a  deep  yellow  or  orange  hue.  It  has  three 
little  stars  above  it,  two  of  which  form  a  pretty  pair. 

The  star  (£)  has  a  companion,  which  is  a  test  for  an  opera- 
glass. 

The  star  (H)  is  a  double  for  an  opera-glass. 

Note  the  star  clusters  (46  M)  and  (38).  There  is  a  fiery 
fifth-magnitude  star  in  the  field  at  the  same  time. 

The  star  Markeb  forms  a  small  triangle  with  two  other  stars 
near  it. 


106 


46  M 


107 


MONOCEROS  (mo-nos'-e-ros)— THE  UNICORN.     (Face 
South.) 

LOCATION. — Monoceros  is  to  be  found  east  of  Orion  between 
Canis  Major  and  Canis  Minor.  Three  of  its  stars  of  the  fourth 
magnitude  form  a  straight  line  northeast  and  southwest,  about 
9  degrees  east  of  Betelgeuze,  and  about  the  same  distance  south 
of  Alhena,  in  Gemini. 

The  region  around  the  stars  (8),  (13),  (17)  is  particularly 
rich  when  viewed  with  an  opera-glass.  The  clusters  (50  M) 
and  (2)  are  well  worth  observing. 


108 


Alhena 

In 
Gemini 


Cancer 
°0 


A 


O 


Procyon 

in 
Canis  Minor  ^' 


Betel^uze  Q 
Orion 


MONOCEROS      / 


Sirius 


OSiri 
in 


ERIDANUS  (e-rid'-a-nus)— OR  THE  RIVER  PO.     (Face 

Southwest.) 

LOCATION. — Three  degrees  north  and  two  degrees  west  of 
Rigel,  in  Orion,  lies  (ft)  Eridani,  the  source  of  the  River.  Thence 
it  flows  west  till  it  reaches  (TT)  Ceti,  then  drops  south  5  degrees, 
thence  east  southeast,  its  total  length  being  about  130  degrees. 

The  great  curve  the  river  takes,  just  east  of  the  Whale,  re- 
sembles a  horseshoe. 

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The  asterism  known  as  "The  Brandenburg  Sceptre,"  con- 
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seen  standing  in  a  straight  line  north  and  south  below  the  first 
bend  in  the  River,  just  west  of  Lepus. 


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The  Abbreviations 
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M.  Moderately 
Sw.  Swift 
SI.  Slow 

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THE  PLANETS. 

IT  is  not  within  the  scope  of  this  work  to  dwell  at 
length  on  a  discussion  of  the  planets.  Certain 
explanatory  matter  regarding  them  is  necessary, 
however,  to  prevent  confusion  ;  for  the  student 
must  bear  in  mind  the  fact  that  from  time  to  time  the 
planets  appear  in  the  constellations,  and  unless  identi- 
fied would  lead  him  to  think  that  the  diagrams  were 
inaccurate. 

The  reader  is  referred  to  any  one  of  the  four  large 
plates  that  precede  each  season.  He  will  observe  that 
a  portion  of  an  ellipse  has  been  traced  on  each  of  them, 
and  that  this  line  has  been  designated  the  Ecliptic, 
which  simply  means  the  sun's  apparent  pathway  across 
the  sky. 

This  pathway  is  divided  into  twelve  equal  parts  of 
thirty  degrees  each,  and  to  these  twelve  divisions  are 
given  the  names  of  the  constellations  of  the  Zodiac  in 
the  following  order:  Aries  O),  Taurus  (»),  Gemini 
(n),  Cancer  (53),  Leo  (i'l),  Virgo  (m),  Libra  (=^), 
Scorpio  (irO,  Sagittarius  (#),  Capricornus  (v3),  Aqua- 
rius (^r),  Pisces(^). 

The  sun,  starting  from  the  first  degree  of  Aries,  the 


n6  The  Planets 

first  day  o^  spring,  passes  through  one  constellation  a 
month.  The  planets  follow  the  same  pathway. 

Confusion,  therefore,  respecting  their  identity  can 
only  arise  in  connection  with  a  study  of  one  of  the 
twelve  constellations  named  above,  so  that  whenever 
a  star  of  any  size  is  seen  in  one  of  these  constellations, 
not  accounted  for  in  the  diagram,  the  student  may  con- 
clude that  this  is  a  planet ;  especially  if  the  unknown  star 
does  not  twinkle.  It  now  remains  to  identify  the  planet. 

This  can  best  be  done  by  referring  to  an  almanac, 
which  states  what  planets  are  above  the  horizon,  and 
which  are  morning  and  evening  stars.  By  morning 
star  is  meant  that  the  planet  is  east  of  the  sun;  by 
evening  star,  that  it  is  west  of  the  sun. 

If  the  planet  is  in  the  west,  and  very  brilliant,  it  is 
safe  to  assume  that  it  is  the  planet  Venus. 

If  it  is  brighter  than  any  of  the  fixed  stars,  and  is 
some  distance  from  the  sun,  it  is  doubtless  the  colos- 
sal Jupiter. 

If  it  is  very  red,  it  will  probably  be  Mars. 

Saturn  is  distinguished  because  of  its  pale,  steady, 
yellow  light. 

As  for  Mercury,  Uranus,  and  Neptune,  the  former 
is  very  near  the  sun,  and  seldom  seen;  while  Uranus 
and  Neptune  are  so  inconspicuous  as  to  lead  to  no  con- 
fusion on  the  part  of  the  novice. 

A  few  notes  of  interest  relative  to  the  planets  follow, 
taking  them  up  in  regular  order  passing  outward  from 


The  Planets  1 1 7 

the    sun  :    Mercury,     Venus,     Mars,     Jupiter,     Saturn, 
Uranus,  Neptune. 

MERCURY. 

Mercury  is  the  nearest  to  the  sun  of  any  of  the  planets. 
On  this  account,  and  because  of  its  rapid  changes,  it 
is  seldom  seen. 

The  most  favorable  time  for  observing  it  is  just  after 
sunset,  or  just  before  sunrise,  during  the  months  of 
March,  April,  August,  and  September,  when  it  may  be 
seen  for  a  few  successive  days. 

The  greatest  distance  it  ever  departs  from  the  sun  on 
either  side  varies  approximately  from  sixteen  to  twenty- 
eight  degrees.  Its  motion  resembles  a  pendulum,  swing- 
ing from  one  side  of  the  sun  to  the  other. 

VENUS. 

Venus  approaches  nearer  to  the  earth  and  is  more 
brilliant  than  any  other  planet.  It  is  bright  enough 
to  cast  a  shadow  at  night,  and  is  sometimes  visible  even 
at  noonday.  It  is  almost  as  large  as  the  earth,  and 
oscillates,  as  Mercury  does,  on  either  side  of  the  sun. 

It  never  appears  more  than  three  hours  after  sunset, 
and  as  long  before  the  sunrise,  and  is  never  more  than 
forty- eight  degrees  from  the  sun. 

MARS. 

Mars  is  most  like  the  earth  of  any  of  the  planets,  and, 
although  not  as  interesting  an  object  to  view  as  the 


ii8  The  Planets 

more  brilliant  planets,  Venus  and  Jupiter,  it  claims  our 
attention  chiefly  because  of  the  surmises  respecting 
its  habitability. 

Mars  appears  to  the  naked  eye  as  a  bright  red  star,  and 
when  at  a  favorable  opposition  to  the  earth  (which  occurs 
only  once  in  every  fifteen  years)  it  rivals  Jupiter  in  splendor. 

The  planet  may  be  mistaken  for  the  first  magnitude 
stars,  Antares  in  Scorpio,  and  Aldebaran  in  Taurus, 
near  which  it  frequently  passes. 

The  fixed  stars,  however,  twinkle,  while  Mars  glows 
steadily.  If  there  is  any  doubt  in  the  student's  mind 
as  to  the  identity  of  the  planet,  a  few  nights  of  observa- 
tion, noting  the  changes  in  the  planet's  position,  will 
decide  the  point.  It  takes  Mars  about  fifty-seven  days 
to  pass  over  one  constellation  in  the  Zodiac. 

JUPITER. 

Jupiter  is  the  largest  of  all  the  planets  in  the  solar 
system,  and  it  is  easily  distinguished  from  the  fixed 
stars  because  of  its  brilliancy  and  splendor,  exceeding 
in  brightness  all  the  planets  excepting  Venus,  and  cast- 
ing a  preceptible  shadow. 

It  moves  slowly  and  majestically  across  the  sky, 
advancing  through  the  Zodiac  at  the  rate  of  one  con- 
stellation yearly.  It  is  therefore  a  simple  matter  to 
forecast  its  position,  for,  in  whatever  constellation  it  is 
seen  to-day,  one  year  hence  it  will  be  seen  equally  ad- 
vanced in  the  next  constellation. 


The  Planets  119 

Although  Jupiter  appears  to  move  slowly,  it  really 
travels  at  the  incomprehensible  rate  of  five  hundred 
miles  a  minute. 

The  most  interesting  feature  about  Jupiter  is  its 
four  moons,  which  are  visible  with  a  good  glass.  They 
appear  like  mere  dots  of  light,  and  their  transit  of  or 
occultation  with  the  planet  (that  is,  their  disappearance 
before  or  behind  its  disk)  can  be  watched,  and  is  a  never 
failing  source  of  pleasure.  A  telescope  alone  reveals 
Jupiter's  fifth  moon. 

SATURN. 

Saturn  is  farther  removed  from  the  earth  than  any 
of  the  planets  in  the  solar  system,  visible  to  the  naked 
eye.  It  is  distinguished  from  the  fixed  stars  by  the 
steadiness  of  its  light,  which  is  dull  and  of  a  yellow  hue, 
though  to  some  it  appears  to  be  of  a  greenish  tinge. 
It  seems  barely  to  move,  so  slow  is  its  motion  among 
the  stars,  for  it  takes  two  and  one  half  years  to  pass 
through  a  single  constellation  of  the  Zodiac. 

Saturn  has  eight  moons.  Titan,  its  largest  one,  can 
be  seen  with  a  good  glass  under  favorable  circum- 
stances. As  for  its  celebrated  rings,  a  telescope  alone 
reveals  them. 

URANUS. 

The  student  will  hardly  mistake  Uranus  for  a  fixed 
star,  as  it  is  only  under  the  most  favorable  circum- 
stances that  it  can  be  seen  with  the  naked  eye. 


120  The  Planets 

At  its  nearest  approach  to  the  earth,  it  is  as  bright 
as  a  sixth -magnitude  star.  Uranus  is  accompanied  by 
four  moons,  and  takes  seven  years  to  pass  over  a  con- 
stellation of  the  Zodiac. 

NEPTUNE. 

Neptune  is  the  most  distant  of  the  planets  in  the 
solar  system,  and  is  never  visible  to  the  naked  eye. 

The  earth  comes  properly  under  a  discussion  of  the 
planets,  but  a  description  of  it  is  hardly  within  the 
scope  of  this  work. 

Confusion  in  identifying  the  planets  is  really  confined 
to  Mars  and  Saturn,  for  Venus  and  Jupiter  are  much 
brighter  than  any  of  the  fixed  stars,  and  their  position 
in  the  heavens  identifies  them,  as  we  have  seen  before. 

The  following  table  of  first- magnitude  stars  in  the 
Zodiacal  constellations  confines  the  question  of  identi- 
fying the  planets  to  a  comparison  of  the  unknown  star 
with  the  following-named  stars: 

Castor  and  Pollux  in  Gemini. 
Spica  "   Virgo. 

Regulus  "   Leo. 

Aldebaran  '   Taurus. 

Antares  "   Scorpio. 

The  first  fbjir  stars  named  above  are  white  in  color,  so 
that  either  Mars  or  Saturn  is  readily  distinguished 
from  them. 


The  Planets  121 

As  for  Aldebaran  and  Ant  ares,  which  are  both  red 
stars,  not  unlike  Mars  and  Saturn  in  color  and  magni- 
tude, the  fact  that  the  latter  do  not  twinkle,  and  tha4 
they  do  not  appear  in  the  diagrams,'  should  satisfy  the 
observer  of  their  identity.  Reference  to  an  almanac, 
or  a  few  nights  of  observation,  will  in  any  case  set  at 
rest  any  doubt  in  the  matter. 


Neptune 


THE  PLANETARY  ORBITS 
122 


Saturn 


Neptune 


Uranus 


o 

O     9 
O      - 


Earth 
Venus 
Mars 

Mercury 


COMPARATIVE  SIZE  OF  THE  PLANETS. 

123 


THE  MILKY  WAY. 

THE  Milky  Way,  or  Galaxy  as  it  is  sometimes  called, 
is  a  great  band  of  light  that  stretches  across 
the  heavens.  Certain  portions  of  it  are  worthy  of 
being  viewed  with  an  opera-glasSi^which  separates  this 
seemingly  confused  ancT  hazy  stream  into  numberless 
points  of  light,  emanating  from  myriads  of  suns. 

This  wonderful  feature  of  the  heavens  is  seen  to 
best  advantage  during  the  months  of  July,  August^ 
September,  and  October.  Beginning  near  the  head  of 
Cepheus,  abput  thirty  degrees  from  the  North  Pole, 
it  passes  through  Cassiopeia,  Perseus,  Auriga,  part  of 
Orion,  and  the  feet  of  Gemini,  where  it  crosses  the 
Ecliptic,  and  thence  continues  into  the  southern  hemi- 
sphere, beyond  our  ken  in  these  latitudes. 

It  reappears  in  two  branches  in  the  region  of  Ophiu- 
chus,  one  running  through  the  tail  of  Scorpio,  the  bow 
of  Sagittarius,  Aquila,  Delphinus,  and  Cygnus;  the 
other  above  and  almost  parallel  to  it,  uniting  with  the 
first  branch  in  Cygnus,  and  passing  to  Cepheus,  the 
place  of  beginning. 

The  student  should  note  especially  the  strange  gap 

124 


The  Milky  Way  125 

between  (a),  (y),  and  (c)  Cygni.  This  dark  space  has 
been  called  the  "Coal  Sack.'" 

The  Milky  Way  in  the  vicinity  of  Cassiopeia  is  par- 
ticularly rich,  and  well  repays  a  search  with  an  opera- 
glass. 

"The  Galaxy  covers  more  than  one  tenth  of  the  visible 
heavens,  contains  nine-tenths  of  the  visible  stars,  and 
seems  a  vast  zone-shaped  nebula,  nearly  a  great  circle 
of  the  sphere,  the  poles  being  at  Coma  and  Cetus." 


THE  MOTIONS  OF  THE  STARS. 

TT  may  be  that  the  student  desires  to  proceed  in 
this  conquest  of  the  sky  at  a  more  rapid  pace 
than  the  scheme  of  study  permits.  To  assist  such, 
it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  circumpolar  constel- 
lations, as  Ursa  Major,  Ursa  Minor,  Draco,  Cepheus, 
and  Cassiopeia,  are  designated, — are  visible  in  our  lati- 
tude in  the  northern  sky  every  night. 

A  reference  to  their  diagrams,  and  a  glance  at  any  of 
the  large  plates  showing  the  entire  group  in  their  re- 
spective positions,  will  suffice  for  the  student  to  identify 
them. 

The  hours  of  darkness  alone  limit  the  speed  with  which 
a  knowledge  of  the  .constellations  can  be  acquired. 

Let  us  suppose  that  the  student  begins  his  search  for 
the  constellations  on  the  night  of  April  ist,  at  nine  P.M. 
He  has  for  his  guide  the  large  plate,  and  the  spring  group 
of  eleven  constellations  set  forth  in  the  diagrams.  The 
remaining  three  constellations  of  the  circumpolar  group 
are,  as  we  have  seen  before,  visible  in  the  north. 

If  he  faces  the  western  sky,  he  will  see  Andromeda 
just  setting,  and  Perseus,  Taurus,  Orion,  Lepus,  and 
Canis  Major  but  a  short  distance  above  the  horizon.  If 

126 


Motions  of  the  Stars  127 

he  is  so  fortunate  as  to  be  able  to  identify  these,  and 
the  spring  group,  he  may  turn  his  attention  wholly  to 
the  eastern  sky,  where  new  constellations  await  him. 

In  the  southeast  he  may  see  Virgo.  In  the  east 
well  up  blazes  Arcturus,  the  gem  of  Bootes,  below  which 
is  the  beautiful  Northern  Crown,  with  the  diamond  in 
the  head  of  Serpens  beneath  it.  Hercules  is  rising,  and 
Vega  in  the  Lyre  should  be  seen  just  flashing  on  the 
view  in  the  northeast. 

This  completes  the  list  of  wonders  visible  at  this 
precise  time,  but  the  stars  apparently  are  never  still,  and 
doubtless,  while  the  student  has  been  passing  from  one 
constellation  to  another  in  the  western  and  southern 
skies,  others  have  been  rising  in  the  east  and  northeast. 

At  ten  P.M.  the  Lyre  is  well  up,  and  Ophiuchus  and 
Libra  can  be  discerned.  At  midnight  Scorpio  and 
Cygnus  are  ready  to  claim  the  attention.  By  two 
o'clock  A.M.,  Aquila,  Delphinus,  and  Sagittarius  have 
risen,  and  at  break  of  day  Andromeda,  Pegasus,  and 
Capricornus  can  be  seen  if  the  student  has  had  the 
courage  to  remain  awake  this  length  of  time. 

In  no  way  can  the  seeming  movement  of  the  stars  be 
better  understood  than  by  actual  observation.  The 
observer  must  bear  in  mind  that  the  movement  is  an 
apparent  one :  that  it  is  the  earth  that  is  moving  and  not 
the  stars.  He  has  only  to  think  of  the  analogy  of  the 
moving  train  beside  the  one  that  is  standing  still,  and 
the  true  state  of  affairs  will  at  once  be  evident. 


128  Motions  of  the  Stars 

To  further  appreciate  this  apparent  change  in  the 
situation  of  the  constellations,  the  student  should  refer 
to  the  large  plates  successively.  In  each  successive 
one  he  will  note  the  advancement  westward  of  the 
constellations  mentioned  above,  rising  in  the  east  late 
at  night. 

The  student  can  best  get  an  idea  of  this  westward 
apparent  movement  of  the  stars  by  noting  the  position 
of  some  bright  first-magnitude  star  from  night  to  night. 
He  will  soon  be  able  to  calculate  the  position  of  this 
star  a  month  or  more  ahead,  and  this  calculation  ap- 
plies to  all  the  constellations  and  stars. 

It  is  not  within  the  scope  of  this  work  to  go  into  this 
matter  in  detail.  The  author  merely  desires  to  mention 
this  fact  of  apparent  change  of  position  in  the  stars,  a 
fact  that  will  be  noticeable  to  the  observer  in  a  short 
time,  and  a  fact  that  it  is  hoped  he  will  be  able  to  ex- 
plain to  his  own  satisfaction  with  the  aid  of  the  fore- 
going remarks. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  stars  on  the  diagrams  are 
all  numbered  and  lettered.  The  numbers  refer  to  the 
magnitude  of  the  star, — that  is,  the  brightness  of  it,  the 
first-magnitude  stars  being  the  brightest,  the  second- 
magnitude  stars  less  bright,  etc. 

The  letters  are  those  of  the  Greek  alphabet,  and  the 
student  if  not  familiar  with  it  is  advised  to  consult  a 
Greek  grammar. 

In  the  text,  in  referring  to  certain  stars  in  the  con- 


Motions  of  the  Stars  129 

stellations,  the  genitive  case  of  the  Latin  name  of  the 
constellation  is  given;  for  example,  Vega  is  known  as 
(a)  Lyrae,  meaning  alpha  of  Lyra,  Aldebaran  as  (a) 
Tauri,  alpha  of  Taurus,  etc. 

The  twilight  hour  affords  an  excellent  opportunity 
of  fixing  the  relative  positions  of  the  first-magnitude 
stars  in  the  mind,  for  at  that  time  they  alone,  save  the 
planets,  are  visible, 


METEORS,  OR  SHOOTING-STARS. 

AS  this  work  is  designed  primarily  to  cover  what  is 
observable  in  the  starlit  heavens  with  the  naked 
eye,  the  subject  of  meteors,  or  shooting- stars,  comes 
properly  within  its  scope. 

There  are  few  persons,  if  any,  who  have  not  witnessed 
the  sight  of  a  splendid  meteor  speeding  across  the  sky, 
and  such  a  sight  always  calls  forth  exclamations  of 
wonder  and  delight. 

Apparently  these  evanescent  wanderers  in  space  are 
without  distinctive  features,  and  baffle  classification; 
but,  like  all  that  nature  reveals  to  us,  they  have  been 
found,  for  the  most  part,  to  conform  to  certain  laws, 
and  to  bear  certain  marks  of  resemblance  that  permit 
of  their  identification  and  classification. 

By  careful  observation  for  over  fifty  years  the  me- 
teors, generally  speaking,  have  been  so  arranged  that 
they  come  under  the  head  of  one  of  the  nearly  three 
hundred  distinct  showers  which  are  now  recognized  by 
astronomers. 

Many  of  these  showers  are  too  feeble  and  faint  to  be 
worthy  of  the  attention  of  one  not  especially  interested 
in  the  subject,  but  certain  ones  are  well  worth  observ- 

130 


Meteors,  or  Shooting  Stars  131 

ing.  There  is  always  a  pleasure  in  being  able  to  recognize 
at  a  glance  a  certain  definite  manifestation  ot  nature, 
be  it  a  rare  flower  or  a  flashing  meteor. 

The  generally  accepted  theory  respecting  the  meteors 
is  that  they  were  all  originally  parts  of  comets  now 
disintegrated,  and  the  four  well-known  showers  of  April 
2oth,  August  icth  and  i4th,  and  November  2yth,  bear 
testimony  to  this  theory. 

The  apparent  velocity  of  the  meteors  is  between  ten 
and  forty- five  miles  a  second,  and  their  average  height 
is  about  seventy- six  miles  at  first  appearance,  and 
fifty-one  miles  at  disappearance.  Occasionally  a  meteor 
is  so  large  and  compact  as  to  escape  total  destruction, 
and  falls  to  the  earth.  Specimens  of  these  meteorites 
are  to  be  found  in  our  best  museums. 

I  have  seen  fit  to  divide  the  principal  meteor  showers 
into  four  groups,  according  to  the  seasons  in  which  they 
appear,  and  have  placed  them  respectively  at  the  con- 
clusion of  each  season's  work  on  the  constellations. 

By  radiant  point  is  meant  the  point  from  which  the 
meteors  start  on  their  flight.  This  point  is  an  apparent 
one,  however,  due  to  an  illusion  of  perspective,  for  the 
meteors  really  approach  the  earth  in  parallel  paths. 

The  dates  given  for  these  showers  are  those  of  the 
maxima,  and  the  meteors  should  be  looked  for  several 
nights  before  and  after  the  dates  specified. 

The  showers  that  are  to  be  seen  after  midnight  are, 
unless  of  special  note,  omitted. 


132        Meteors,  or  Shooting  Stars 

There  are,  besides  the  meteors  that  have  been  classi- 
fied, certain  shoo  ting- stars  that  apparently  have  no 
determined  radiant  point.  These  are  called  sporadic 
meteors. 

In  these  lists  of  meteors,  the  radiant  point  is  only 
approximately  given;  for  scientific  purposes  a  far  more 
exact  position  is  required  in  terms  of  right  ascension 
and  declination.  There  are  several  good  lists  of  meteoric 
showers  to  be  obtained,  which  afford  this  information 
for  those  who  care  to  pursue  the  matter  more  in  detail. 
See  the  Rev.  T.  W.  Webb's  book,  entitled  Celestial 
Objects  for  Common  Telescopes.  For  purposes  of  identi- 
fication, the  radiant  points  here  given  will  be  found 
for  the  most  part  sufficient. 


THE    NAMES    OF    THE    STARS    AND    THEIR 
MEANINGS. 


ACUBENS,  (a)  Cancri,  "the  claws." 

Situated   in   one   of   the   Crab's   claws.     It   is   white   in 
color  and  culminates*  March  i8th. 

ADARA,  (s)  Canis  Majoris,  "the  virgins,"  a  name  for  four  scars, 
of  which  Adara  is  brightest. 

Situated  in  the  Dog's  right  thigh.     It  is  pale  orange  in 
color,  and  culminates  Feb.  nth. 

ADHIL,  (e)  Andromeda,  "the  train  of  a  garment." 

Situated  in  the  left  shoulder  of  the  chained  lady. 

ALADFAR,  (/u)  Lyra,  "the  talons"  (of  the  falling  eagle) 

(al-ad-far) 

AL  BALI,  (f)  Aquarii,  "the  good  fortune  of  the  swallower." 

AL-BI'-REO,  (/?)  Cygni,  origin  doubtful. 

or  Situated  in  the  beak  of  the  Swan  and  the  base  of 

Al-bir'  e-o     the  Cross.  Its  color  is  topaz  yellow,  and  it  culminates 
Aug.  28th. 

*It  will  be  noted  that  the  date  of  culmination  is  given  in  almost- 
every  case.  By  culmination  is  meant  the  highest  point  reached 
by  a  heavenly  body  in  its  path,  at  which  point  it  is  said  to  be  on 
the  meridian.  In  this  hemisphere  this  is  in  each  case  the  highest 
point  north. 

For  example : — the  culmination  of  the  sun  occurs  at  noon. 

The  time  when  the  stars  here  mentioned  culminate  on  the 
dates  specified  is  in  each  case  nine  o'clock  P.M. 

133 


134  Names  of  the  Stars 


ALCAID,  (77)  Ursa  Majoris. 

See  Benetnasch. 

ALCHIBA,   (a)  Corvi,  "the  tent,"  the  desert  title  for  the    con- 
(al-ke-ba')  stellation.      Situated  in  the  eye  of  the  Crow.     Orange 
in  color. 

ALCOR,  (g)  Ursaz  Majoris,  "the  cavalier"  or  "the  rider." 

Situated  close  to  Mizar  in  the  handle  of  the  "Dipper." 
Silver  white  in  color.  The  Arabs  called  this  star  ' '  Saidak, ' ' 
meaning  "the  proof,"  because  they  used  it  to  test  a  good 
eye. 

AL-CY'-O-NE,  (>,)  Tauri. 

Greenish  yellow  in  color.  The  brightest  of  the  Pleiades. 
Situated  in  the  neck  of  the  Bull. 

AL-DEB'-A-RAN,  (a)  Tauri,  "the  hindmost"  or  the  "follower," 
i.  e.  of  the  Pleiades. 

Situated  in  the  eye  of  the  Bull.     Pale  rose  in  color.     It 
is  receding  from  the  earth  at  the  rate  of  thirty  miles  per 
second,  and  culminates  Jan.  10. 
(a)  Tauri  is  sometimes  called  Palilicium. 

ALDERAMIN,   (a)  Cephei  "the  right  arm."       It  now  marks  the 
(Al-der-am'     shoulder  of  Cepheus. 

-in)  White  in  color.     It  culminates  Sept.  27th. 

ALDHAFERA,  (Q  Leonis. 

Situated  in  the  "Sickle,"  and  the  neck  of  the  Lion.  It 
culminates  April  8th. 

ALFIRK,  or  ALPHIRK  (al-ferk'),  "stars  of  the  flock,"  (/?)  Cephei 
The  Arab  name  for  the  constellation. 
Situated  in  the  girdle  of  Cepheus. 
White  in  color.     It  culminates  Oct.  ad. 


And  their  Meanings  135 

ALGEIBA,  (y)  Leonis,  "the  mane." 

(al-je'-ba)  Situated  in  the  "Sickle,"  and  the  shoulder  of  the 
Lion.  It  is  approaching  the  earth  at  the  rate  of 
twenty-four  miles  per  second,  and  culminates  April 
gth. 

AL'-GE-NIB,  (y)  Pegasi,  "the  wing,"  possibly  the  "flank"  or 
"side." 

Situated  in  the  wing  of  the  Horse.  White  in  color,  and 
culminates  Nov.  i4th. 

AL'-GE-NIB,  (a)  Persei,  "the  side,"  or  Mirfak,  "the  elbow." 
Situated  in  the  right  side  of  Perseus.  Lilac  in  color  and 
approaching  the  earth  at  the  rate  of  six  miles  per  second. 
It  culminates  Jan.  ist.  This  star  is  also  called  Alchemb. 

ALGENUBI,  (f)  Leonis,  "the  head  of  the  Lion." 
(al-je-no'-bi)  A  yellow  star  situated  in  the  Lion's  mouth. 

AL'-GOL,  (/?)  Persei,  "the  ghoul"  or  "demon." 

Situated  in  the  head  of  the  Medusa  held  in  the  Hero's 
left  hand.  White  in  color.  It  is  approaching  the  earth 
at  the  rate  of  one  mile  per  second,  and  culminates  Dec.  23d. 

ALGORAB,  or  ALGORES,  (fi)  Corvi,  "the  raven." 
(al-go-rab')     Situated  on  the  right  wing  of  the  Crow.     Pale 
yellow  in  color.     It  culminates  May  i4th. 

ALHENA,    (y)  Geminorum,   "a  brand  on  the  right  side  of  the 
(al-hen'-a)     camel's  neck,"  or  a  "ring"  or  "circlet." 

Situated  in  the  right  foot  of    Pollux.      White    in 

color,    and  culminates  Feb.  8th. 
Alhena  is  sometimes  called  Almeisam. 


Names  of  the  Stars 


AL-I-OTH,   (e)   Ursa  Major  is,  disputed  derivation. 

Situated  in  the  tail  of  the  Great  Bear.     It  is  approaching 
the  earth  at  the  rate  of  nineteen  miles  per  second.     It 
culminates  May  2oth. 
Alioth,  the  name  sometimes  given  to  (a)  and  (r>)  Serpentis. 

AL-KAID,  See  ALCAID. 
(al-kad) 

ALKALUROPS,  (//)  Bootis,   "a  herdsman's  club,  crook,  or  staff." 

(a.l-ka-lu'-rops)  Situated  near  the  right  shoulder  of  the  Herds- 

man.    Its  color  is  flushed  white. 

ALKES,  (a)  Crateris,  from  Al  Kas,  "the  cup,"  the  Arab  name 
(ar-kes)       for  the  constellation. 

Situated  in  the  base  of  the  Cup.    Orange  in  color,  and 

culminates  April  2oth. 

ALMAC,  (y)  Andromeda,  "a  badger,"  possibly  "the  boot." 

Situated    in   the    left    foot    of    Andromeda.     Orange    in 
color,  and  culminates  Dec.  8th. 

AL  NAAIM,  (r)  and  (Y)  Pegasi,  "the  cross  bars  over  a  well." 

AL  NASL,  or  ELNASL  (el-nas'-l),  (7)  Sagittarii,  "the  point  head 
(al-nas'l)     of  the  arrow.  '  ' 

Situated  in  the  arrow's  tip.     It  is  yellow  in  color,  and 

culminates  Aug.  4th. 

This  star  cometimes  called  Nushaba  and  Warida. 

AL  NATH,    (y}  Auriga,  and   (/?)  Tauri,  "the  heel  of  the   rein- 

or  holder,"  or  the  "butter"  i.  e.  the  "horn." 
NATH   Situated  in  the  right  foot  of    the  Charioteer,  and  the  tip 

of    the    northern   horn  of   the    Bull.     Brilliant  white  in 

color,  and  culminates  Dec.  nth. 


And  their  Meanings  137 

ALNITAK,  (C)  Orionis,  "the  girdle." 

(al-ni-tak')  Situated  in  Orion's  belt.  Topaz  yellow  in  color 
It  is  receding  from  the  earth  at  the  rate  of  nine 
miles  per  second,  and  culminates  Jan.  26th. 

ALIYAT  N,  (tf)  Scorpii,  "the  outworks  of  the  heart." 

Situated  near  the  Scorpion's  heart.  It  is  creamy  white 
in  color. 

AL'-PHARD,    (a)   Hydras,  "the  solitary  one  in  the  serpent." 

or  Situated    in  the  heart  of  Hydra.     Orange  in   color, 

(al-fard')     and  culminates  Mar.  26th. 

AL-PHEC'-CA,  (<r)  Corona  Borealis,  "the  bright  one  of  the  dish." 
See  Gemma.  Century  Dictionary  gives  meaning  "the 
cup  or  platter  of  a  dervish." 

AL'-PHE-RATZ,    (a)    Andromeda,    "the  head   of  the   woman    in 
or   (al-fe-rats')     chains."     "The  navel  of  the  horse." 

Situated  in  the  head  of  Andromeda.     White  and 
purplish  in  color.     It  culminates  Nov.   icth. 
Alpheratz  is  sometimes  called  Sirrah. 

AL  RAKIS,  (#)  Draconis,  "the  dancer." 

Situated  in  the  Dragon's  nose.  Brilliant  white  in  color. 
The  Century  Dictionary  gives  for  this  star  Arrakis,  '  The 
trotting  camel." 

AL  RESCHA,  (a)  Piscium,  "the  cord  or  knot." 

Situated  in  the  knot  joining  the  ribbons  that  hold  the 
Fishes  '  together.  Pale  green  in  color,  and  culminates 
Dec.  yth. 

ALSAFI.  «?\  D*  acorns. 


138  Names  of  the  Stars 

ALSCHAIN,    (/?)     Aquilcz,  part  of  the  Arab  name  for  the  constel- 
(al-shan')    lation. 

Situated  in  the  head  of  Antinoiis.     Pale  orange  in 

color,  and  culminates  Sept.  3d. 

AL  SHAT,   (v}  Capricorni,  "the  sheep." 

AL'-TAIR,  or  ATAIR,  («)  Aquila,  "the  flying  eagle,"  part  of  the 
Arab  name  for  the  constellation.  Situated  in  the  neck 
of  the  Eagle.  Yellow  in  color,  and  culminates  Sept.  ist. 

ALTERF  (A)  Leonis,  "the  glance,"  i.  e.  the  Lion's  eye. 
(al-terf' )      Situated    in    the    Lion's   mouth,    the   point    of  the 
Sickle.     Red  in  color. 

ALUDRA,    (77)   Canis  Major  is,    "the   virgins."     The  four   stars 
(al-6'-dra)   near  each  other  in  Canis  Major. 

Situated  in  the  Great  Dog's  tail.     Pale  red  in  color, 

and  culminates  Feb.   2ist. 

'ALULA  BOREALIS,  (K)  UrscB  Majoris. 

.ALULA  AUSTRALIS,  (C)      "  The  "northern  and  south- 

ern wing." 

Situated  in  the  Southern  hind  foot  of  the  Great  Bear. 
The  latter  star  is  sometimes  called  El  Acola. 

\LYA,    (0)  Serpentis. 

Situated  in  the  tip  of  the  Serpent's  tail.     Pale  yellow 
in  colort    It  culminates  Aug.  i8th. 

ANCHA,  (9)  Aquarii,  "the  hip." 

Situated  in  the  right  hip  of  Aquarius. 

'  ANILAM,  (c)  Orionis,  "a  belt  of  spheres  or  pearls." 
(a-ni-lam')       Situated   in   Orion's  belt.     It   is  bright  white    in 
color,  and  is  receding  from  the  earth  at  the  rate 


And  their  Meanings  139 

of     sixteen     miles     per     second.     It     culminates 
Jan.  25th. 

ANT-AR-ES,  or  AN-TA'-REZ,  (a-)  Scorpii,  "the  rival  of  Mars." 
Situated  in  the  heart  of  the  Scorpion.  Fiery  red  and 
emerald  green  in  color.  It  culminates  July  nth. 

ARC-TU-RUS,  (<*)  Bootis,  "the  leg  of  the  lance-bearer,"  or  "the 
bear-keeper. ' ' 

Situated  in  the  left  knee  of  the  Herdsman.     Golden  yellow 
in  color.     It  culminates  June  8th. 

ARIDED,  See  DENEB. 

ARNEB,    (a)  Leporis,   "the  hare,"  the  Arab  name  for  the  con- 
(ar'-neb)      stellation, 

Situated  in  the  heart  of  the  Hare.     Pale  yellow  in 

color.     It  culminates  Jan.  24th. 

(«)  Leporis  is  sometimes  called  Arsh. 

ARKAB,  (/?)  Sagittarii,  "the  tendon  uniting  the  calf  of  the  leg 
(ar'-kab)      to  the  heel." 

Situated  in  the  Archer's  left  fore  leg. 

ASHFAR,  (/u)  and  (f)  Leonis,  "the  eyebrows." 

Situated  close  to  the   Lion's  right  eye.       (//)  orange  in 
color,  sometimes  called  Alshemali  or  Asmidiske. 

ASPIDISKI  or  ASMIDISKE,  (i)    Argus,  "in  the  gunwale." 
(as-pi-dis'ke)     Situated    in    the    shield    which    ornaments    the 
vessel's  stern.     Pale  yellow  in  color. 
The  Century  Dictionary  gives  "a  little  shield" 
as  the  meaning  for  this  star  name. 

ASCELLA,    (C)     Sagittarii,   "the  armpit." 

Situated  near  the  Archer's  left  armpit.     It  culminates 
Aug. 


i4°  Names  of  the  Stars 

ASCELLUS,    (r>)    Bootis. 

It  marks  the  finger  tips  of  the  Herdsman's  upraised  hand 

ASCELLUS  BOREALIS,  (^)  Cancri,  "northern  ass." 
Straw  color. 

ASCELLUS  AUSTRALIS,  (<5)  Cancri,  "the  southern  ass." 

Situated  on  the  back  of  the  Crab.       Straw  color. 

AiiK,    O)   Persei. 

Situated  in  the  wing  on  the  right  foot  of  Perseus. 

AZELFAFAGE,  (7i}    Cygni,  "the  horse's  foot  or  track." 

AZHA,  (77)    Eridani,  "the  ostrich's  nest." 
Pale  yellow  in  color. 

BAHAM,     (0)    Pegasi,   "the    young    of    domestic    animals." 
Situated  near  the  left  eye  of  Pegasus. 

BATEN  KAITOS,  (£)  Ceti,  "the  whale's  belly." 

A  topaz-yellow-colored  star,  which  culminates  Dec.  5th 

BEID,  (ba'-id)  (o)    Eridani,  "the  egg." 
A  very  white  star. 

BEL'-LA-TRIX,  (y)   Orionis,  "  the  female  warrior. "     The  Amazon 
star. 

Situated  in  the  left  shoulder  of  Orion.     Pale  yellow  in 
color.     It  is  receding  from  the  earth  at  the  rate  of  six 
miles  per  second,  and  culminates  Jan.  22d. 
The  Century  Dictionary  gives  the  color  as  very  white. 

BE-NET'-NASCH,  (??)  Ursa?  Majoris,  "the  chief  or  governor  of 
the  mourners ' '  (alluding  to  the  fancied  bier) . 
Situated  in  the  tip  of  the  Great  Bear's  tail.  Brilliant 
white  in  color.  It  is  approaching  the  earth  at  the  rate 
of  sixteen  miles  per  second,  and  culminates  June  2d. 
This  star  is  also  called  Alkaid. 


And  their  Meanings 


BETELGEUZE    (BET-EL-GERZ'),   (a)  Orionis,  "the  giant's  shoul- 
der," or  "the  armpit  of  the  central  one." 
Situated    in    the    right    shoulder    of    Orion.     Orange    in 
color.     It  is  receding  from  the  earth  at  the  rate  of  ten 
miles  per  second,   and  culminates  Jan.    2pth. 
Sometimes  called  Mirzam,  the  roarer. 

BOTEIN,  (<5)  Arietis,  "the  little  belly." 
(bo-te-in') 

CA-PEL'-LA,   («-)  Auriga,  "the  she-goat." 

Situated  in  the  left  shoulder  of  the  Charioteer.  It  is 
a  white  star,  and  is  receding  from  the  earth  at  the  rate 
of  fifteen  miles  per  second.  It  culminates  Jan.  igth. 
The  color  of  Capella  is  nearly  that  of  the  sun. 

CAPH,    (ft)  Cassiopeia,   "the    camel's  hump,"  or  "the  hand." 
(kaf  )     It  is  white  in  color,  and  culminates  Nov.  i  ith. 

CAS'-TOR,    («)  Geminorum,    "the  horseman  of  the  twins." 

Its  color  is  bright  white,  and  it  culminates  Feb.  23d. 
Situated  in  the  head  of  Castor.  The  Century  Dictionary 
gives  the  color  as  greenish. 

CHELEB,  (ft}  Ophiuchi. 

Situated  in  the  head  of  the  Serpent.  It  is  a  yellow  star, 
and  culminates  Aug.  3oth. 

CKORT,  (0)  Leonis. 

(chort)     Situated  in  the  hind  quarters  of  the  Lion.     It  culmi- 

nates April  24th.       The  Century  Dictionary    has   (9) 

Centauri  for  this  star. 

COR  CAROLI,  (a)  Can.  Ven.,  "the  heart  of  Charles  II." 

(k6r  kar'-6-ll)    It    is   flushed    white    in  color,    and    culminates 

May   2oth.     A  yellowish  star  according  to  the 

Century  Dictionary. 


142  Names  of  the  Stars 

CUJAM,    (ft?)  Herculis.   Word  used  by  Horace  for  the  club  of 
Hercules. 

CURSA,     (ft)    Eridani,     "the  footstool   of  the   central  one,"  or 
(KER'  SA)     "the    chair  or  throne." 

Situated  about  at  the  source  of  the  river  near  Orion. 

Topaz  yellow  in  color,  and  culminates  January  i3th. 

This     star     is     also    known    as     Dhalim    (Tha'  lim) 

("the  ostrich"). 

DABIH,  (y@)  Capricorni,  "the  lucky  one  of  the  slaughterers,"  or 

(da'-be)      "the  slayer's  lucky  star." 

Situated    in  the   head   of    the   Sea-Goat.     It     is   an 
orange-colored  star,  and  culminates  Sept.   ioth.' 

DE'-NEB,  or  ARIDED    (ar'-i-ded  (a)  Cygni,     "  the  hen's    tail," 
"the   hindmost." 

Situated  in  the  tail  of  the  Swan,  and  at  the  top  of  the 
Cross.  Brilliant  white  in  color.  It  is  approaching  the 
earth  at  the  rate  of  thirty-six  miles  per  second.  It 
culminates  Sept.  i6th. 

DENEB  AL  OKAB,  (f)  and  (Q  Aquilcs,  "the   eagle's  tail." 
(den'-eb  al-6-kab) 

DENEB  ALGEDI,  (5)  Capricorni,  "the  tail  of  the  goat." 
(den'-eb  al'-je-de)  Situated  in  the  tail  of  the  Sea-Goat. 

DENEB  AL  SHEMALI,  (z)    Ceti. 

(den'-eb-al-she-ma-le)  A  bright  yellow  star  situated  at  the  tip 

of  the  northern  fluke  of  the   monster's 

tail. 

DENEB  KAITOS,  (/3)    Ceti,  "the  tail  of  the  whale." 

(den'-eb  ki'-tos)      Situated  in    the  tail    of    the    Whale.     It    is 

a  yellow    star,     and    culminates    Nov.  21  St. 

This  star  sometimes  called  Diphda. 


And  their  Meanings  143 

T*E-NEB'-O-LA,  (/?)  Leonis,  "the  lion's  tail." 

It  is  a  blue  star  which  is  approaching  the  €arth  at  the 
rate  of  twelve  miles  per  second.  It  culminates  May  3d. 
This  star  also  called  Dafirah,  and  Serpha. 

DSCHUBBA,  (<5)  Scorpii,  "the  front  of  the  forehead." 

Situated  in  the  head  of  the  Scorpion.  It  culminates 
July  4th. 

DSIBAN,    (V>)   Draconis. 

Pearly  white  in  color. 

.DUB'-HE,  (a)  Urs&  Majoris,  "a  bear." 

(dob'-he)  The  northern  pointer  star.  It  is  a  yellow  star,  and 
is  approaching  the  earth  at  the  rate  of  twelve  miles 
per  second.  It  culminates  April  aist.  The  Arabs 
called  the  four  stars  in  the  Dipper  the  "bier." 

ELTANIN,  or  ETANIN    (et'-a-nin),   (y)  Draconis,   "the  dragon," 
"the  dragon's  head." 

It  is  orange   in   color  and  culminates  Aug.   4th. 
Rasaben,  is  another  name  for  this  star. 

E'-NIF,  or  en'-if  (f)  Pegasi,  "the  nose." 

Situated  in  the  nose  of  Pegasus.  It  is  a  yellow  star 
which  is  receding  from  the  earth  at  the  rate  of  five 
miles  per  second  and  culminates  Oct.  4th. 

ER  RAI,  (y)  Cephei,    "the    shepherd." 

(re-ra'-e)  Situated  in  the  left  knee  of  Cepheus.     It  is  yellow  in 
color  and  culminates  Nov.   loth. 

FOMALHAUT,    (Fo'mal-o)    (disputed   pronunciation),    («)    Piscis 
Austri,    "the   fish's  mouth." 

Situated  in  the  head  of  the  Southern  Fish.  It  is  reddish 
in  color,  and  culminates  Oct.  a.^th. 


i44  Names  of  the  Stars 

FURUD,  or   PHURUD  (fu-rod)     (£)  Canis    Majoris,  "the   bright 
single^one." 

Situated  in  the  left  hind  paw  of  the  Greater  Dog.  It  is 
light  orange  in  color. 

GEM'-MA,  (a*)  Corona  Borealis,  "a  bud." 

The  brightest  star  in  the  Northern  Crown.  It  is  brilliant 
white  in  color,  and  is  receding  from  the  earth  at  the  rate 
of  twenty  miles  per  second.  It  culminates  June  2 8th. 
This  star  is  also  known  as  Alphecca  and  Alfeta. 

GIANSAR  (A)  Draconis,  "the  twins,"  "the  poison  place." 

Situated  in  the  tip  of  the  Dragon's  tail.  An  orange- 
colored  star.  It  culminates  April  28th. 

GIEDI,    (a)   Capricorni. 

Situated  in  the  head  of  the  Sea-Goat.  It  is  a  yellow 
star,  and  culminates  Sept.  gth. 

GIENAH,  (y)    Corvi,  "the  right  wing  of  the  raven." 

Situated  in  the  Crow's  wing.        It  culminates  May  loth. 

GIENAH,  (£)    Cygni,  "the  wing." 

Situated  in  the  Swan's  wing.  It  is  a  yellow  star,  and 
culminates  Sept.  1 7th. 

GOMEISA,      GOMELZA,       (/?)      Canis     Minoris,     "Watery-eyed, 
(go-ml'-za)     weeping."     A  white  star. 

Situated  in  the  neck  of  the  Lesser  Dog. 

GRAFFIAS,    (/?)    Scorpii,    derivation   unknown;   the   name  may 
mean  "the  crab." 

Situated  in  the  head  of  the  Scorpion.  It  is  a  pale  white 
star,  and  culminates  July  5th. 

GRUMIUM,  (£)  Draconis,  "the  dragon's  under  jaw." 
(gro'-mi-um)      A  yellow  star. 


And  their  Meanings  145 

HAM'-AL,  (a)  Arietis,  "the  head  of  the  sheep." 

or  Situated  in  the  forehead  of  the  Ram.     It  is  yellow 

(ha-mal')     in  color,  and  is  approaching  the  earth  at  the  rate  of 
nine  miles  per  second.     It  culminates  Dec.   nth. 

HOMAM,  (C)  Pegasi,  "the  lucky  star  of  the  hero,  or  the  whisperer." 
(ho-mam')      Situated    in   the  neck   of    Pegasus.     Light   yellow 
in   color.     It   culminates  Oct.    22d.    The    Century 
Dictionary  gives  this  star  name  to  (77)       Pegasi. 

HYADUM  I,  (y)  Tauri. 

Situated  in  the  Hyades,  the  nose  of  the  Bull.     A  yellow 
star. 

IZAR,  MIRACH,  or  MIZAR,  (f)    Bootis,  "the  girdle." 
(e-zar)      Pale  orange  in  color.      It  is  approaching  the  earth  at 
the  rate  of  ten  miles  per  second,  and  culminates  June 
1 6th.     A  beautiful  colored  double  star. 

JABBAH,  (v}    Scorpii,  "crown  of  the  forehead." 
(Jab'-ba)     A  triple  star. 

KAUS  AUSTRALIS,  (f)  Sagittarii,  "the  southern  part  of  the  bow." 
(kas)     An  orange-colored  star.     It  culminates  Aug.  8th. 

KAUS  BOREALIS,  ('!)  Sagittarii,  "the  northern  part  of  the  bow-,-" 
(kas)     Orange  color. 

KITALPHA,  (a)  Equulei,  the  Arab  name  for  the  asterism. 
In  the  head  of  the  Little  Horse.  It  culminates  Sept. 
24th. 

KO'-CHAB,  (/3)  Ursce  Minoris,  "the  star  of  the  North." 
(ko-kab')     Situated  in  the  right  shoulder  of  the  Little   Bear. 
One  of  the  two  Guardians  of  the  Pole.  It  is  reddish 


146  Names  of  the  Stars 

in  color,  and  is  receding  from  the  earth  at  the  rate 
of  eight  miles  per  second.     It  culminates  June  igth. 

KORNEPHOROS,    ((3)    Herculis,     the   Arab    name    for    the   con- 
stellation. 

Situated  in  the  right  arm-pit  of  Hercules.  Pale  yellow 
in  color.  It  is  approaching  the  earth  at  the  rate  of 
twenty-two  miles  per  second.  It  culminates  July  i2th. 

LESUTH,  (v}  Scorpii,  "the  sting." 

Situated  in  the  tip  of  the  Scorpion's  tail.  It  culminates 
July  ayth. 

MARFAK,  (0}  Cassiopeia,  "the  elbow." 

(mar'fak)     Situated  in  the  left  elbow  of  Cassiopeia.       This  star 
name  is  also  given  to  (*/)  Cassiopeiae. 

MARFIC,  (A)  Ophiuchi,  "the  elbow." 

(mar'-fik)    Situated   in  the  left  elbow  of  the  Serpent   Bearer. 
Yellowish  white  in  color. 

MARFIK,  or  MARSIC,  («)  Herculis,  "the  elbow." 
(mar'  file)    Situated    in    the    right    elbow    of    Hercules.     Light 
yellow  in  color. 

MAR'-KAB,  (tr)  Pegasi,  Arab  word  for  "saddle' '.    Century  Diction- 
(mar/  kab)      ary  gives  "a  wagon"  or  "chariot." 

Situated  in  the  base  of  the  Horse's  neck.  It  is 
a  white  star  which  is  receding  from  the  earth  at 
the  rate  of  three  quarters  of  a  mile  a  second. 
It  culminates  Nov.  3d. 

MARKEB,  (v)  Argus. 

Situated  in  the  stern  of  the  Ship.     It  culminates  Mar.  25th 

MARSYM,  (A.)  Herculis,  "the  wrist." 

Situated  in  the  left  wrist  of  Hercules.  Deep  yellow  in 
color. 


And  their  Meanings  147 

MATAR  or  SAD  (Sad),  "a  lucky  star,"  or  more  fully,  Sad-Mator, 
(77)  Pegasi,   "the  fortunate  rain." 
Situated  in  the  left  fore  leg  of  Pegasus. 

MEBUSTA,  MEBSUTA  (Meb-so'-ta)  or  MEBOULA,  (*)  Geminorum, 
"the  outstretched." 
A  brilliant  white  star  situated  in  the  right  knee  of  Castor. 

MEDIA,  or  KAUS  MEDIA,  (S)  Sagittarii,  "middle  (of  the)  bow." 
Orange  yellow  in  color.     It  culminates  Aug.  8th. 

ME-GRES,  or   (Me'-grez),    (<5)   Urscz  Majoris,   "the  root  of  the 
bear's  tail." 

It  is  a  pale  yellow  star,  and  culminates  May  roth.     This 
star  is  the  faintest  of  the  seven  which  form  the  Dipper. 

MEISSA,   (/I)  Orionis. 

Situated     in     the    face     of     the    Giant     Hunter.       Pale 
white  in  color. 

MEKBUDA,  (£)  Geminorum,  "the  contracted  (arm)." 
(mek-bu'-da)      Situated  in  the  left  knee  of  Pollux.     Pale  topaz 
in  color. 

MENKALINAN,    (ft}  Auriga,    "the  shoulder  of    the    rein-holder 

(men-ka-le-nan'       or  driver." 

or  Situated  in  the  right  arm  of  the  Charioteer. 

Men-kal'-i-nan)  A  lucid  yellow  star  which  is  receding  from 
the  earth  at  the  rate  of  seventeen  miles  per 
second.  It  culminates  Jan.  agth.  This 
star  was  one  of  the  first  discovered  and 
most  remarkable  " spectroscopic  binaries." 

MENKAR,  (a)  Ceti,  "the  nose,  or  snout." 

(men'kar)        Situated  in    the    nose    of    Cetus.     Bright    orange 

in  color.     It    culminates    Dec.    2ist.     Sometimes 

written  Menkab. 


148  Names  of  the  Stars 

MENKIB,  (|)  Persei,  "the  shoulder." 

Situated  in  the  calf  of  the  right  leg  of  Perseus. 

,  MERAK,  (/8)  Ursa  Majoris,  "the  loin  of  the  bear." 
(me'rak)          A  greenish  white  star  which  is  approaching  the 
earth  at  the  rate  of  eighteen  miles  per  second.      It 
culminates  Apr.  2oth.     The  southern  of  the  two 
"pointers." 

MESARTIM,  (y)  Arietis,  the  Hebrew  word  for  "minister." 
(me-sar'tim)        Situated  in  the  Ram's  left  horn.     Bright  white 
in  color. 

,  MINTAKA,   (<5)  Orionis,  "the  belt  (of  the  giant)." 
(min'ta-ka)     One  of  the  three  stars  in  Orion's  belt.     A  brilliant 
white  star  with  very  little  motion.     It  culminates 
Jan.  24th. 

MI'-RA,  (o)  Ceti. 

(mi'ra  Situated  in  the  neck  of  Cetus. 

or  A  famous  variable,  flushed  yellow  in  color.     It  culmi- 

me'ra)  nates  Dec.  i5th. 

Mi' RACK,  or  MiRAK,(/3)  Andromeda,  "the  girdle,"  or  "the  loins." 

(mi'rak  .or    A  yellow  star  culminating  Nov.  28th. 

me'rak) 

*  MIZAR/  (£)  Ursa  Majoris,  "a  girdle  or  apron." 
(mlzar  or     Situated  in  the  tail  of  the  Great  Bear.     Brilliant 
me'zar)         white  in  color.     It  is  approaching  the  earth  at  the 
rate  of   nineteen  miles  per  second.     It   culminates 
May  28th 

MULIPHEN,  (y)  Canis  Majoris. 

Situated  in  the  neck  of  the  Greater  Dog.     It  culminates 
Feb.   1 6th. 


And  their  Meanings  149 

MUPHRID,   (??)  Bootis,  "the  solitary  star  of  the  lancer." 
(mu'-frid)    Situated  in  the  calf  of  the  left  leg  of  the  Herdsman. 
Pale  yellow  in    color.     It  culminates  June  4th. 

MURZIM  or  MIRZAM  (mer-zam'),  (/3)  Canis  Majoris,  "the  an- 
nouncer" or  "the  roarer." 

Situated  in  the  Greater  Dog's  left  fore  paw.     A  white  star 
culminating  Feb.  5th. 

MUSCIDA,  (o)  Urs&  Majoris,  "the  muzzle." 

Situated  in  the  nose  of  the  Great  Bear. 

NEKKAR,  or  NAKKAR  (nak'-kar),  (ft)  Bootis,    "the   herdsman," 
the  Arab  name  for  the  whole  constellation. 
Situated  in  the  head  of  Bootes.     A  golden  yellow  star 
which  culminates  June  2oth. 

NAOS,    (£)  Argus,   "the  ship." 

(na'-os)    Situated  in  the  stern  of  the  Ship.    It  culminates  Mar.  3d. 

NASHIRA,  (y)  Capricorni,  "the  fortunate  one,  or  the  bringer  of 
good  tidings." 

Situated    in   the    tail   of    the    Sea-Goat.     It    culminates 
Oct.  3d. 

NIHAL,  (yg)  Leporis. 

Situated  in  the  right  foot  of  the  Hare. 

Deep  yellow  in  color.     It  culminates  Jan.  23d. 

NODUS  SECUNDUS,  (<5)  Draconis,  "the  second  of  the  four  knots 
or  convolutions." 
Deep  yellow  in  color.     It  culminates  Aug.  24th. 

NUNKI,  (tf)  Sagittarii,  "the  star  of  the  proclamation  of  the  sea," 
or  SADIRA  (sad'-e-ra)  "the  ostrich  returning  from  the 
water. ' ' 


i5°  Names  of  the  Stars 

Situated  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Archer's  left  arm.     It 
culminates  Aug 


-PHAD,     PHEC'-DA,  or  PNAED  (fa'-ed),   (y)   Ursa  Maforis,  "the 
thigh"  (of  the  bear). 

Topaz  yellow  in  color.  It  is  approaching  the  earth  at 
the  rate  of  sixteen  miles  per  second.  It  culminates 
May  4th. 

PHAET  or  PHACT,  («)  Columbce. 

Situated  in  the  heart  of  the  Dove.  It  culminates  Jan. 
26th. 

PHERKAD  (fer'-kad),  (y)  Ursa  Minoris,  "the  calf." 

Situated  in  the  right  fore  leg  of  the  Little  Bear. 

PO-LA"-RIS,  (a)  Ursa  Minoris,  "the  pole  star." 

Situated  in  the  tip  of  the  Little  Bear's  tail.  Topaz 
yellow  in  color.  It  is  receding  from  the  earth  at  the  rate 
of  sixteen  miles  per  second. 

POL'-LUX,  (/?)  Geminorum,  Ovid's    "Pugil,"  the  pugilist  of  the 
two  brothers. 

Situated  in  the  head  of  Pollux.  An  orange-colored  star 
which  is  receding  from  the  earth  at  the  rate  of  one  mile 
per  second.  It  culminates  Feb.  2  6th.  The  Century 
Dictionary  gives  the  color  of  Pollux  as  very  yellow. 

PORRIMA,  (y)  Virginis,  Latin  name  for  "a  goddess  of  prophecy." 
(por'-i-ma)    Situated  in  the  Virgin's  left  arm.     It  culminates 
May  i  yth. 

PRO'-CY-ON,  (a)  Canis  Minoris,  "before  the  dog." 

A  yellowish-white  star.  It  is  approaching  the  earth  at 
the  rate  of  six  miles  per  second.  It  culminates  Feb.  24th, 
It  is  situated  in  the  right  side  of  the  Lesser  Dog. 


And  their  Meanings  151 


PROPUS,  (??)  Geminorum,  "the  forward  foot." 
(pro' -pus)    Situated  in  the  northern  foot  of  Castor. 

RASALAS,   (u)  Leonis,   "the  lion's  head  toward  the  south." 
(ras'-a-las)       Situated    in     the     Sickle,    close     to     the     Lion's 
right     eye.     An   orange-colored  star.       It    culmi- 
nates   Apr.     i  st.     Alshemali     and     Borealis     are 
other  names  for  this  star. 

RAS  ALGETHI,  (a)  Herculis,  "the  kneeler's  head." 
(ras-al-ge'-thi)   Orange  red  in  color.     It  culminates  July  23d. 

RAS'-AL-HAG'-UE,     («)    Ophiuchi,    "the    head    of    the    serpent 
charmer. ' ' 

A  sapphire-hued  star.  It  is  receding  from  the  earth  at 
the  rate  of  twelve  miles  per  second.  It  culminates 
July  28th. 

RASTABAN,   (ft}  or  (y)  Draconis  "the  dragon's  head,"  or  "the 

(ras-ta-ban')  head  ot  the  basilisk." 

A  yellow  star  culminating  Aug.  3d.  This  star 
also  called  Alwaid  (al-wid')  "the  sucking  camel- 
colts."  The  three  stars  near  it  are  included  in  this 
appellation. 

REG'-U-LUS,  (a}  Leonis,  diminutive  of  the  earlier -Rex. 

Situated  in  the  handle  of  the  Sickle,  and  the  right  fore 
paw  of  the  Lion.  It  is  flushed  white  in  color,  and  is 
approaching  the  earth  at  the  rate  of  five  miles  per  second. 
It  culminates  April  6th. 

RIGEL     (/?)  Orionis,  "the  [left]  leg  of  the  Jabbah,  or  giant." 
(ri'-jel),      A  bluish- white  star  which  is  receding  from  the  earth  at 

the  rate  of  ten  miles  per  second.     It  culminates  Jan. 

2oth.  This  star  is  sometimes  called  Algebar  (al'-je-bar). 


i52  Names  of  the  Stars 

ROTANEV,    (/?)  Delphini,  from  Venator,  assistant  to  Piazzi,  his 
(rot'-a-nev)     name  reversed. 

It  culminates  Sept.  15th. 

RUCHBA,  (GO}  Cygni,  "the  hen's  knee." 
A  pale  red  star. 

RUCHBAH,  or  RUCBAH,  (<5)  Cassiopeia,  "the  knee." 

Situated  in  the  left  knee  of  Cassiopeia.       It  culminates 
Dec.  2d. 

RUKBAT,   (a)  Sagittarii,  "the  archer's  knee." 

Situated  in  the  left  fore  foot  of  the  Archer.     It  culminates 
Aug.  24th. 

SABIK,   (77)  Ophiuchi. 

A  pale  yellow  star  in  the  left  leg  of  the  Serpent  Bearer. 
It  culminates  Aug.  2ist. 

SADACHBIA,  (y)  Aquarii,  "the  luck  star  of  hidden  things." 
(sad-ak-be'-ya)  Greenish  in  color  and  situated  in  the  water  jar 
of  Aquarius.     It  culminates  Oct.   i6th. 

SAD  AL  BARI,  (A.)  and  (/u)  Pegasi,  "the  good  luck  of  the  excelling 
one." 
Situated  close  to  the  fore  legs  of  Pegasus. 

SADAL  MELIK  or  RUCBAH,   (a)  Aquarii,  "the  lucky  star  of  the 

(sad-al-mel'-ik)  king. ' ' 

A   red   star   situated   in  the   right   shoulder  of 
Aquarius.     It  culminates  Oct.  gth. 

SADALSUND,  or   SADALSUUD    (sad-al-so-6d),    (^g)    Aquarii,    "the 
luckiest  of  the  lucky." 

Pale  yellow  in  color.     Situated  in  the  left  shoulder  of 
Aquarius.     It  culminates  Sept.  2pth. 


And  their  Meanings  153 

SADATONI,   (£)  Auriga. 

(sad-a-to'-ni)    One  of    the   three  stars   known    as    "the    kids.'' 
Orange  color. 

SADR  or  SADIR  (sa'-der),  (y)  Cygni,  "the  hen's  breast." 
(sadr)  This    star  is    approaching  the  earth   at  the  rate  of   four 
miles  per  second.      It  culminates  Sept.  nth. 

,SAIPH,  (H)  Orionis,  "the  sword  of  the  giant." 
(sa-if)    Situated  in  Orion's  right  knee.     It  culminates  Jan.  27th. 

SARGAS,  (6)  Scorpii. 

A  red  star  situated  in  the  tail  of  the  Scorpion.     It  cul- 
minates July  ayth. 

SCHEAT  or  MENKIB,  (/j)  Pegasi,  "the  upper  part  of  the  arm." 

(she'-at)   Situated  in   the  left   fore-leg  of  Pegasus.     It   is   deep 

yellow  in  color,  and  is  receding  from  the  earth  at  the 

rate  of    four  miles  per  second.     It    culminates  Oct. 

25th. 

SCHEMALI,  see  Deneb  al  schemali,  (*)  Ceti. 

SEGINUS,  (y)  Bootis,  from  Ceginus  of  the  constellation,  possibly, 
(se-ji'nus)    Situated  in  the  left  shoulder  of  Bootes.     It  culmi- 
nates June  1 3th. 

SHAULA,  (A.)  Scorpii,  "the  sting." 
(sha'-la)  In  the  tip  of  the  Scorpion's  tail. 

SHEDAR,  SCHEDIR,  or  SHEDIR,  (a)  Cassiopeia,  "the  breast,"  or 
from  El  Seder,  "the  sedar   tree,"  a   name   given   to   this 
constellation  by  Ulugh  Beigh. 
Pale  rose  in  color.     It  culminates  Nov.   i8th. 

SHELIAK,    or    SHELYAK    (shel'-yak),    "a    tortoise,"    (ft)   Lyras, 
Arabian  name  for  the  constellation. 
A  very  white  star  culminating  Aug.  i7th. 


i54  Names  of  the  Stars 

SHERATAN,  (ft}  Arietis,  "a  sign,"  or  "the  two  signs." 
(sher-a-tan')   Situated    in    the    Ram's    horn.     A    pearly    white 
star  culminating  Dec.  yth. 

SIR'-I-US,  (ayCanis  Majoris,  "the  sparkling  star  or  scorcher." 
Situated  in  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Dog.  Brilliant 
white  in  color.  The  brightest  of  the  fixed  stars.  It  cul- 
minates Feb.  nth. 

SITULA,  («)  Aquarii,  "the  water  jar  or  bucket." 
^(sit'-u-la)     Situated  in  the  rim  of  the  Water  Jar. 

SKAT,  or  SCHEAT,  (8)  Aquarii,  "a  wish,"  or  possibly  it  means  a 
"shin  bone." 
Situated  in  the  right  leg  of  Aquarius. 

SPI'CA,  (a)  Virginis,  "the  ear  of  wheat  or  corn"  (held  in  the 
Virgin's  left  hand). 

A  brilliant  flushed  white  star,  which  is  approaching  the 
earth  at  the  rate  of  nine  miles  a  second.  It  culminates 
May  28th. 

SUALOCIN,  or    SVALOCIN     (sval'-6-sin),   Nicolaus    reversed,     (a) 
Dclphini. 
A  pale  yellow  star  culminating  Sept.  i5th. 

SULAFAT,  or   SULAPHAT   (so'-la-fat),    "the  tortoise,"    (y)    Lyra. 
Arabian  title  for  the  whole  constellation. 
It  is  bright  yellow  in  color,  and  culminates  Aug.  igth. 

SYRMA,  (?)  Virginis;  this  name  used  by  Ptolemy  to  designate  this 
star  in  the  train  of  the  Virgin's  robe. 

•TALITA,  (*)  or  (?)  Ursa  Majoris,  "the  third  vertebra." 
(ta'-le-ta)    Situated  in  the  right  fore  paw  of  the  Great  Bear. 
Topaz  yellow  in  color. 


And  their  Meanings  155 

•TANIA  BOREALIS,   (A)   Ursa  Majoris. 

/TANIA  AUSTRALIS,  (//)  Ursa  Majoris,  a  red  star. 

These  stars  are  situated  in  the  right  hind  foot  of  the 
Great  Bear.  The  former  star  culminates  Apr.  8th. 

TARAZED,  (y)  Aquila,  "the  soaring  falcon,"  part  of  the  Persian 
(tar'-a-zed)   title  for  the  constellation. 

Situated  in  the  body  of  the  Eagle.    A  pale  orange 

star,  culminating  Aug.  3ist. 

TEGMENI,  (£)  Cancri,  "in  the  covering." 
A  yellow-colored  star. 

THU'-BAN,  (a)  Draconis,  "the  dragon,"   the  Arab  title  for  the 

or         constellation. 

(tho-ban')  Situated  in   one  of   the    Dragon's  coils.     It   is   pale 
yellow  in  color,  and  culminates  June  yth. 

UNUK  AL  HAY,  (a)  Serpentis,  "the  neck  of  the  snake." 

or  A  pale  yellow  star  which  is  receding  from  the 

UNUKALHAI          earth  at  the  rate  of  fourteen  miles  a  second.     It 
(u'-nuk-al-ha'-i)     culminates  July   28th. 

VE'GA,  or  WEGA,  (a-)  Lyra,  "falling,"  i.  e.,  the  falling  bird, 
"the  harp  star." 

A  beautiful  pale  star  sapphire  in  color.  It  is  approaching 
the  earth  at  the  rate  of  nine  miles  a  second.  It  culmi- 
nates Aug.  i  ath. 

VINDEMIATRIX,  («)  Virginis,  "the  vintager  or  grape  gatherer." 
Situated  in  the  Virgin's  right  arm.  A  bright  yellow  star 
culminating  May  22d. 

WASAT,  (8)  Geminorum,  "the  middle." 

(wa'-sat)  Situated    in    the    body     of    Pollux.     Pale    white     in 
color.     It  culminates  Feb.   ipth. 


156  Names  of  the  Stars 

WESEN,  (8)  Canis  Majoris,  "the  weight." 

A  light  yellow  star  in  the  right  side  of  the  Great  Dog. 
It  culminates  Feb.  iyth. 

YED   PRIOR,    (8)   Ophiuchi,   "the    hand."    "the  star  behind  or 
(yed)    following . ' ' 

Deep  yellow    in  color.     It    culminates    July    7th.     It  is 

in  the  left  hand  of  the  Serpent  Bearer. 

YED  POSTERIOR,    (*?)   Ophiuchi,   "the  hand." 
A  red  star  culminating  July  8th. 

YILDUM,  (8)  Ursce  Minoris. 

Situated    in  the  tail   of    the    Little    Bear.     A    greenish- 
hued  star  culminating  Aug.  i2th. 

ZANIAH,   (TJ}  Virginis. 

Situated  in  the  Virgin's  left  shoulder. 

ZAURAK,     (y)  Eridani,  "the  bright  star  of  the  boat." 
*/       (zi'-rak),     A  yellow  star. 

ZAVIJAVA,     (/8)     Virginis,     "angle    or     corner,"    "the    retreat 
(zav-i-ja'-va)       or  kennel  of  the  barking  dog." 

Situated  in  the  Virgin's  left  wing.     A  pale  yellow  star 

culminating  May  3d. 

ZOSMA,     (8)  Leonis,  "a  girdle." 

(z6s'-ma)  Situated  at  the  root  of  the  Lion's  tail.  A  pale  yellow 
star  which  is  approaching  the  earth  at  the  rate  of  nine 
miles  a  second.  It  culminates  Apr.  24th.  This  star  is 
also  called  Duhr,  and  sometimes  Zubra. 

ZUBENAKRAVI,  (7)  Scorpii,  "the  claw  of  the  Scorpion." 
(zoben-ak'-ra-vi  or  -bi)       A  red  star. 


And  their  Meanings  157 


£>• 

ZUBEN  ELGENUBI,  (zo-ben-el-jen-u'-bi)  (or)  Libra,  "the  southern 
claw"  (of  the  Scorpion). 

A  pale  yellow  star  culminating  June  i7th.  This  star  is 
also  called  Kiffa  Australis. 

ZUBEN     ESCHAMALI,     (/?)     Libra;, 

(zo-ben-es-she-ma'-li)      "the  northern  claw.-" 

A  pale  emerald  color,  a  very  unusual  color  for  a  star.  It 
is  approaching  the  earth  at  the  rate  of  six  miles  a  second 
and  culminates  June  23d.  This  star  is  also  known  as 
"Kiffa  Borealis." 

In  the  compilation  of  the  foregoing  list,  the  author  has  been 
greatly  assisted  by  Allen's  "  Star  Names  and  their  Meanings." 


TABLE  SHOWING  THE  STARS  OF  THE  FIRST  AND 
SECOND  MAGNITUDE  RISING  IN  THE  EASTERN 
SKY  AT  NINE  O'CLOCK  P.M.  ON  THE  DATES 
SPECIFIED. 


DATE 

NAME  OF  STAR 

CONSTELLATION 

January  i 

Regulus,  i  st. 

Leo. 

"       8 

Alphard,  2d. 

Hydra. 

"        ii 

Cor  Caroli. 

Canes  Venatici. 

February  20 

Arcturus,  ist. 

Bootes. 

March  i 

Spica,  ist. 

Virgo. 

5 

Gemma,  2d. 

Corona  Borealis 

April    i 

Vega,  i  st. 

Lyra. 

20 

Ras  Alhague,  2d. 

Ophiuchus. 

"           22 

Deneb,  2d. 

Cygnus. 

May  o 

Antares,  ist. 

Scorpio. 

"       26 

Altair,  ist. 

Aquila. 

June  5 

Delphinus. 

July  17 

Algenib,  2d. 

Perseus. 

August  6 

Algol 

Perseus. 

21 

Capella,  ist. 

Auriga. 

«           (i 

Hamel,  2d. 

Aries. 

27 

Fomalhaut,  ist 

Piscis  Australis. 

September  13 

The  Pleiades  in  Taurus 

October   2 

Aldebaran,  ist. 

Taurus. 

26 

Bellatrix,  2d. 

Orion. 

30 

Castor,  ist. 

Gemini. 

Betelgeuze,  ist. 

Orion. 

November    4 

Pollux,  2d. 

Gemini. 

"              " 

Rigel,  ist. 

Orion. 

27 

Procyon,  ist. 

Canis  Minor. 

December   4 

Sirius,  ist. 

Canis  Major. 

8 

Phaet,  2d. 

Columba. 

14 

The  Bee  Hive  inCancer 

16 

The  head  of  Hydra 

158 


INDEX 


159 


INDEX 

NAME  PAGE 

Andromeda       .          .          .          .  .          -73 

Antinoiis  .......        39 

Aquarius  .          .          .          .          .          .          .81 

Aquila      .  -39 

Argo  Navis        .......      107 

Auriga      .....  n 

Bootes 55 

Brandenburg  Sceptre,  The  .          .          .          .      1 1 1 

Bull  of  Poniatowskia  .          .          .          .          .45 

Camelopardalis .          .  7 

Cancer      ........        13 

Canes  Venatici  .          .          .          .          .          -59 

Canis  Major       .......      105 

Canis  Minor       .          .          .          .          .          .          .21 

Capricornus       .          .          .          •          •          •  8  3 

Cassiopeia          .....  67 

Cepheus   ....••••        69 

Cerberus  .          .          .          •          •  •          -53 

Columba 103 

Coma  Berenices          .          .          •          •          •  I9 

Corona  Australis         ......        43 

161 


i 62  Index 


NAME  PAGE 

Corona  Borealis          ......      j[|r 

Corvus      ........       23 

Crater       .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .25 

Cygnus     .  37 

Delphinus          .......       41 

Draco       •  33 

Equiileus  .          .          .          .          .          .          .71 

Eridanus  .          .          .          .          .          .          .      in 

Gemini     ........         9 

Gloria  Frederica         .          .          .          /         .          -        73 
Hercules  ........        53 

Herschel's  Telescope  .          .          .          .          .11 

Hydra      .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .15 

Leo 17 

Leo  Minor          .......        95 

Lepus 101 

Libra        .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .49 

Lupus       ........        47 

Lynx         .          .          .          .          .          .          .          -95 

Lyra  35 

Monoceros          .          .          .          .          .          .          .109 

Musca       ........        89 

Ophiuchus          .......        45 

Orion        ........        99 

Pegasus    .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .71 

Perseus     ........       75 

Pisces       ........       77 


Index  163 

NAME  PAGE 

Piscis  Australis  .          .          .          •          •          .81 

Sagitta -37 

Sagittarius         ...  43 

Scorpio     ...•••••        47 
Serpens    .....•••       45 

Sobieski's  Shield 39 

Taurus -97 

Triangula  ....  79 

Ursa  Major        .....0.5 
Ursa  Minor        ....•••          7 

Virgo 57 

Vulpecular  and  Anser 4* 


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